THE AMEBIC AN BISON IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. 43 



been maintained and extended from time to time, and with the cooperation of the 

 Northwest Mounted Police, the officersof the Hudson's Bay Company, the missionaries 

 and traders in the district in question, it is gratifying to note that the Indians and 

 halfbreeds, who would be more likely to kill the animals for their meat and pelts, 

 seem to have become fully aware of the provisions of the law in this respect and have 

 so far shown every disposition to comply with the same. 



The department has not as yet definite information as to the size of the herd in 

 question, but I understand that the animals are of pure blood, and that the steps 

 which have been taken for their preservation and increase will prove successful. 



It may be further pointed out that it is the intention to establish and maintain at 

 the Kocky Mountains Park of Canada a preserve for animals that are indigenous to 

 the country, such as buffalo, elk, moose, goats, etc., with a view to their preservation 

 and increase, and a number of these animals have already been secured for that 

 purpose. In the month of October, 1897, a buffalo bull and 2 cows were presented 

 to the park by Mr. T. G. Blackstock, King's counsel of Toronto, and in the month 

 of June following, a herd of 1 3 head owned by the Right Hon. Lord Strathcona and 

 Mount Royal, was also donated to the park, making 16 head in all. Necessary 

 arrangements had previously been made in the park for their reception and proper 

 keeping, and they have continued since, and are now, in a very healthy condition. 

 The natural increase of the herd since 1898 has been 15, bringing up the total number 

 to 31, or an increase of, say, 100 per cent in three years. 



From these results it would appear that the efforts put forth by this Department to 

 preserve the buffalo from total extinction will prove successful. 

 I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



T. G. Rothwell, 

 Acting Deputy Minister Interior. 



Note. — Since the receipt of the foregoing communication, the following additional 

 data, relative to buffalo in Canada, has been received from Zoological Park, District 

 of Columbia, through the Smithsonian Institution: 



Great Slave Lake, Athabasca, Canada, pure-blood buffalo or bison, running 



wild 600 



Winnipeg, Manitoba, in captivity, Silver Heights Park, pure-blood buffalo 9 



Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada, in possession of private owner, Mossom Boyd 

 Company, pure-blood buffalo, 1, mixed blood 21 



BUFFALO IN EUROPE. 



The following information in relation to the buffalo or bison, in 

 countries outside of North America, prepared by Carl Hagenback, 

 of Hamburg, Germany, has been received from the superintendent of 

 the Zoological Park, District of Columbia, through the Smithsonian 

 Institution: 



Country. 



England 



France 



Germany , 



Holland and Belgium. 



Hungary , 



Russia 



Scandinavia 



Total 



Pure blood. 



Mixed blood, 



14 



O 



