THE AMERICAN BISON IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. 35 



WISCONSIN. 



Executive Chamber, 

 Madison, Wis., March 7, 1902. 

 Dear Sir: I desire to acknowledge receipt of your favor inclosing 

 copy of resolution of the Senate. 



The buffalo and bison are wholly extinct in the State of Wisconsin. 

 Yours, very truly, 



Robert M. LaFollette. 



Hon. E. A. Hitchcock, 



Department of Interior, Washington, D. C. 



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

 data relative to buffalo in Wisconsin has been received from the Zoological Park, 

 District of Columbia, through the Smithsonian Institution: 



Baraboo, Wis., in posession of private owner, "Ringling Brothers' World's Great- 

 est Show," pure-blood buffalo 1 



Cochrane, Wis., in possession of private owners, Huber Brothers: 



Pure-blood buffalo = 9 



Mixed blood 19 



WYOMING. 



Executive Department, Cheyenne, Februarys, 1902. 

 Sir: Your favor of the 3d instant addressed to the governor, in the 

 absence of the governor from the United States, conies to me for 

 reply. 



There are no buffalo in this State save those in the National Park, 

 and such of those which stray away. During the winter months many 

 of the park buffalo leave the park and go principally into the contigu- 

 ous country on the east and south, known as Jackson Hole. While 

 under our State statute it is a felony to kill buffalo, still the Indians 

 from the Shoshone Reservation, which borders on Jackson Hole, and 

 some white hunters do kill them. 



This herd is rapidly being depleted, not only from depredations 

 mentioned, but because of inbreeding, and also their confinement, 

 owing to the settlement of the country, to a section not adapted for 

 winter range. 



The only method I know for the prevention of their ultimate extinc- 

 tion in the near future is the infusion of new blood, removal during 

 winter to a proper range where food and shelter abounds, and finally 

 domestication under Government protection. 



There are no domesticated buffalo in the State, and I know of no 

 one who has attempted it. 



Very respectfully, Fenimore Seatterton, 



Acting Governor. 



Hon. E. A. Hitchock, 



Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 



