50 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 31, 1892. 



BUFFALO JN YELLOWSTONE PARK. 

 "VTOT very long ago Captain Anderson sent out Bur- 

 -L^ gess, the civilian scout attached to the post in the 

 National Park, to make a journey south to the Hay den 

 Valley. The purpose of the trip was to see whether any 

 signs of poachers could be found and also incidentally to 

 discover what could be learned as to game in the open 

 country to the south. 



The scout has recently returned and made bis report, 

 which announces that there is an abundance of elk in 

 the Hayden Valley; but it is in respect to the buffalo 

 his discoveries are most encouraging. In the Hayden 

 Valley he saw and approached quite close to several 

 herds of bison, which he counted. One of these contained 

 78 individuals, a second 50, a third 110 and a fourth 15. 

 Besides these, several single buffalo were seen and, at 

 quite a distance, some other scattering groups wbich 

 could not be counted. Mr. Burgess does not hesitate to 

 say that he saw fully 300 buffalo. 



It is not to be supposed that at the time of this visit 

 anywhere near all the bison in the Park were collected 

 in the Hayden Valley, and it is altogether reasonable to 

 believe that there are 100, and perhaps 300, other buffalo 

 in the Park besides those which Mr. Burgess saw. Tak- 

 ing, however, the lowest number, we would have 400 

 buffalo in the National Park at the present time. This 

 we believe to be a conservative estimate and to be con- 

 siderably under the truth. These bison are to be divided 

 into six classes, calves, yearlings, two-year-olds, three- 

 year-olds, bulls and cows. This would give us at the 

 lowest estimate from 50 to 70 breeding cows. While ail 

 these cows may not produce calves each year they must 

 represent an annual increase of at least from 36 to 40 

 head. This is taking the most unfavorable view of the 

 number of cows and the rate at which they breed. We 

 are entirely disposed to think that the calf crop among 

 the bison of the National Park will this year be from 75 

 to 100 animals, 



However this may be, it is quite clear that there is in 

 the National Park living under entirely natural condi- 

 tions, and yet protected from attacks by man, a breeding 

 stock of buffalo sufficiently large to keep that reservation 

 fully stocked for all time. 



SNAP SHOTS. 



HPHE game bill prepared by the New York codifi- 

 -■- cation committee has been introduced into the 

 Assembly at Albany. No very material changes have 

 been made in the text as submitted last year. The close 

 seasons are: Deer, Nov. 1-Aug. 15 (does not to be killed). 

 Hounding forbidden-, Oct. 1 1-Sept. 10. Hares, rabbits, 

 March 1-Sept. 1. Black and gray squirrels, Jan. 1- 

 Sept. 15, Wildfowl, March 1-Sept. 1. Quail, Jan. 1- 

 Nov. 10. Woodcock, Jan. 1-Sept. 1, Plover, mud hen, 

 gallinule. grebe, bittern, surf bird, curlew, water chicken, 

 bay snipe, shore birds, Jan. 1-Sept. 1. Robin, blackbird, 

 meadow lark, Jan. 1-Oct. 1. Trout, Sept. 1-May 1. 

 Salmon trout, landlocked salmon, Oct. 1-May 1. Black 

 bass, Jan. 1-May 30. Muskallonge, Jan. 1-May 29. 

 Salmon, Aug. 15 -March 1. There are numerous local 

 exceptions. 



In the U. 8. Senate, Jan. 13, Mr. Morgan, chairman of 

 Committee on Foreign Relations, introduced a resolution 

 which was agreed to calling upon the Secretary of the 

 Treasury to furnish a copy of the report of Mr. H. W. 

 Elliott on the condition of the Seal Islands of Alaska, 

 made in obedience to an Act of Congress approved April 5, 

 1890. Mr. Elliott's report was submitted to the Secretary 

 Nov. 17, 1890. The publication of this important docu- 

 ment which will contain about 250 printed pages, besides 

 numerous illustrations, will be awaited with interest, for 

 it must doubtless show clearly that the fur seal is not to 

 be saved by arbitration, but by agreeing upon and enforc- 

 ing an adequate close time. 



A marked change during late years, which is likewise to 

 be recorded as an advance of common sense, has been 

 the growing recognition of the reasonableness, value and 

 dignity of field sports. "In my young days," writes Mr. 

 Clarke, "angling was generally regarded as an idle and 

 almost disreputable pursuit." Even more notable than 

 the development and perfection of appliances is the 

 change which has been wrought in this respect. The 

 beneficent qualities of care-free recreation are better 

 recognized than ever before, and the world's workers are 

 discovering that there is no other care-free recreation 

 which can compare with that of the field and the 

 stream. 



Notwithstanding that a large number of extras of the 

 issue of Jan. 7 was provided, the edition was exhausted 

 the week of publication, and we have been unable to fur- 

 nish that issue to new subscribers. Provision has been 

 made for a new supply, however, and all demands will 

 be filled. 



Yates county, N. Y., has just adopted a Supervisors' 

 ordinance which requires a license fee of $10 to be paid 

 by non-residents who shoot game in the county. It is an 

 interesting question whether such laws m this are con- 

 stitutional, 



JP* Syortntti&n jurist 



EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A VERY 

 BAD BOY. 



Continued from Page 8. 

 n. 



ABOUT the period when my social standing was at a 

 very low ebb, in consequence of a variety of enter- 

 prises entered into of a character that by no means met 

 the approbation of the more straight-laced portion of the 

 community, I began to feel a growing disgust for such 

 an unappreciative lot. They even refused to see the 

 hand of retributive justice in the very great change that 

 took place in the general appearance of the white horse 

 of a crabbed old chap, who had set his dogs on us one 

 Saturday afternoon, and ran us out of a blackberry patch 

 on his land, which was profitless to bim. The natural 

 color of that old horse had been white, and when it was 

 discovered one day that his tail had been shorn and his 

 color had changed to jet black, there was much wonder- 

 ment. Some said it was a miracle or climatic effect, and 

 some said it was black paint— which latter opinion gen- 

 erally prevailed. But who the artist was remained a 

 mystery ; Rosa Bonheur had not made the town a visit. 

 It was noticeable, however, that many who had no 

 love for the old farmer who owned the animal, looked 

 knowing, and smiled as I passed; while other people 

 severely virtuous and proper laid it at my door. The 

 owner of the chameleon quadruped lodged his complaint 

 with my governor, who being a lawyer naturally de- 

 manded proofs to substantiate the charge: and being as 

 it were retained for the defense, was politic enough not 

 to ask his client if be was guilty, the natural .inference 

 being that he was innocent. No doubt that it was to 

 strengthen his opinion in that belief that he made a caxe- 

 ful inspection of the contents of our little kitchen closet, 

 where paint pots were kept. He did not, however, carry 

 his researches as far as the village wagon shop, nor ques- 

 tion an apprentice thereof, who was frequently accused 

 of being my ally. 



Indignation at the injustice (?) of the accusation to- 

 gether with a long series of charges of similar imputa- 

 tions brought the determination to get away from such a 

 country at the earliest possible moment, and a passing 

 circus company gave direction to my thoughts. The 

 previous year a circus had made our village a visit, and 

 fired my ambition to emulate the brilliant performance 

 of its artists. With this view I had improvised a circus 

 ring in the cornfield a short distance from the house, 

 and pressing our old mare into service, organized my 

 company among the most promising of the boys. Prac- 

 tice was carried on with great industry and earnestness. 

 There was one feat I was particularly ambitious to 

 accomplish, and that was to turn a back-somersault 

 through a. paper-covered hoop. I had overheard a circus 

 man say that it was easy to turn forward with the mo- 

 tion of the horse, but turning backward, reversing the 

 motion, had never been done, and would result in break- 

 ing the neck of the performer who undertook it. With 

 a proper appreciation of the value in which my neck was 

 generally held by the community, I resolved to accom- 

 plish the feat, neck or nothing. It was my ambition to 

 shine in the profession I had secretly chosen as the road 

 to distinction. 



Practice demonstrated very nearly the prophecy of the 

 circus man, and how I did escape breaking my neck was 

 a wonder: it was owing to the kind influence of some 

 guardian angel or the softness of the ground — one or 

 both, for I must have landed on my head several hun- 

 dred times, and left the cast of my craniunl in every 

 square foot of ground in the ring. But I persevered, and 

 we all know the results of perseverance. The day came 

 when I could say I was an artist. 



One day I announced that my benefit would take place; 

 a grand performance would celebrate the closing of the 

 season, as that corn would soon be harvested. There was 

 great excitement among the boys as to the prices of ad- 

 mission, and whether their financial condition would per- 

 mit their witnessing the performance. A scale of prices 

 was finally arranged. There was no reserved section for 

 aristocrats, and the management scorned to enter into 

 secret compacts with ticket scalpers to give them all the 

 best seats on a divy of profis, and then to publish a card 

 lamenting the impossibility of preventing the scalpers 

 from obtaining all the front seats, and robbing the public 

 (and by a singular coincidence to have the public see the 

 manager's wife and daughters appear a few days later in 

 brand new seal skin sacks). There was no such monkey- 

 shining in this instance; everything was fair and above 

 board. Boys from 8 to 12 paid full price, ranging from a 

 one-bladed Barlow knife to so many red apples; they 

 must be red to be current at the door. Boys under 8 half 

 price, or an elderberry box of not less than two dozen 

 pins; or, if preferred," so many yards of kite string. 

 Eggs were currency also, six for the small boy, a dozen 

 for the large one. Great was the preparation for the 

 event. Corn stalks were cut and a stockade formed to 

 prevent outsiders from obtaining free sight. The old 

 white mare was converted into the proverbial circus horse 

 by being decorated in spots and colors with elderberry 

 juice; and as for myself, I lay awake all night studying 

 up a befitting costume. Inasmuch as the first act was 

 the wild Indian scalping business, I concluded it would 

 do to continue in the same dress minus the tomahawk 

 and feathers. Immediately after breakfast I proceeded 

 to gather materials for my make up. A wild and very 

 hot chase after the old rooster resulted on his losing his 

 tail feathers. My sister, whom I had made my confidant, 

 set out to supply sundry articles surreptitiously obtained 

 from the house, to help out. A red table cover impressed 

 for a blanket, an old pair of trousers converted into leg- 

 gins by sewing curtain fringe down the seams, etc. The 

 final touches in the way of paint were supplied at the 

 last moment by a liberal application of elderberry juice 

 in streaks from nose to ears. 



At last, after the audience was seated on their heels or 

 kneeling in the dirt and breathless with expectancy, 

 I burst into the ring with a wild yell, and my appear- 

 ance was so ferocious and fearful that about half the 

 smaller boys rose en. masse in wild alarm, and made a 

 break for liberty. They were finally quieted, and around 

 the ring 1. dashed, standing flourishing the tomahawk and. 

 yelling, presenting an aspect of dreadf ulness and ferocity 

 to strike terror to the bravest Comanche that ever graced 



the plains. A small boy had been subsidized to be the 

 victim of the scalping, and a corn shuck and tow wig 

 had been carefully prepared. At the given signal he was 

 to rush into the ring as an escaped captive, when I was 

 to swoop down on him and scalp him then and there. 

 He managed to get into the ring considerablv scared, but 

 when I dashed for him with an unearthly yell it seemed 

 too real; he couldn't stand it, but broke for the outlet, 

 leaving his scalp that had become displaced, which I, 

 however, to save the day, reached down and caught. It 

 required a powerful imagination to carry out the idea; 

 there never was perhaps an instance of scalping at ?uch 

 long range. However, determining to carry out the pro- 

 gramme, and seizing the scalp I held it aloft, and giving 

 a yell that could have been heard five miles turned a 

 somersault, and landing behind my horse, was about 

 to make my bow and receive the expected applause, 

 when I was astonished to see every boy panic-stricken 

 apparently, and making a break for the open, knocking 

 down the barrier and tumbling over each other, and in 

 less time than it takes to tell it there was not a boy left, 

 and I stood alone wonderingly. I had not long to look 

 for the cause, for there stood my governor, with folded 

 arms, surveying the surroundings. He had heard my 

 wild Indian yells at the house, and had come down to 

 learn whether a murder was being perpetrated. It had 

 not occurred to me that such a conscientious and thorough 

 rendering of the part might arouse the whole village. 



I can see my governor now, as he stood there, survey- 

 ing the deserted scene of my recent triumphs. He was 

 what we are wont to call a gentleman of the old school, 

 who maintained the fashion of his earlier years— in 

 wearing ruffled shirt and wristbands, a buff vest, blue 

 dress coat, white cravat and high collar, long white hair, 

 clean shaven face and boots of immaculate shine. His 

 associates were men of like stamp, who came to visit him 

 once a year to have a week's deer hunt. Fenimore Cooper, 

 Chancellor Kent, the Van Rensselaers, Livingstons, and a 

 sprinkling of judges and lawyers came for their annual 

 frolic, for when they all assembled at a good dinner of 

 game and vpnison, the result of the day's hunt, all dignity 

 was put aside and they were very jolly and as boys again. 

 I mention this that it may be bptter "understood what a 

 shock it must have been to my governor to see the vent 

 of my ambition, for the circus in those days was Tated as 

 a pretty low business, the performers being generally a 

 hard lot, a carousing, fighting class, very low in morals 

 generally. 



For a moment the governor sto-xl; and then taking off 

 his hat in mock respect, said, "Pardon me, most noble 

 Chief of the Wyandottes, for this interruption. When 

 your scalp dance is finished, I request that you will take 

 yourself and the mare to the creek and remove your war- 

 paint, as otherwise you might strike great terror to your 

 mother and sisters; after which I shall be happy to see 

 you in the office." 



That intimation, and "see you in the office," carried 

 with it views of vigorous exercise on the part of the 

 governor, in which a very tough birch rod performed a 

 very active part. In the present instance, however, it 

 was not called into service. The governor opened the 

 interview by complimenting me on my proficiency, saying 

 it was very evident that my talent pointed to the ring as 

 my future profession, and he prophecied T would reach 

 the highest pinnacle of fame, if my neck held out, and 

 other similar complimentary remarks, all of which were 

 worse than the thrashing I expected, for sarcasm was 

 more cutting than the birch. I was dismissed with the 

 intimation that I could call a meeting of my suddenly 

 departing audience and invite them to see how quickly I 

 could illustrate the feasibility of civilizing the noble 

 savage by showing them how speedily I could gathpr a 

 corn crop and put it in the barn, Iknew what that meant, 

 my punishment was to cut, gather and put into the barn 

 about four acres of good stout corn— a big job for a chap 

 of my size. 



I called a meeting of my creditors, to whom was due a 

 part of an unperformed performance: and proposed a 

 "bee," as we called it, a joint contribution of services, on 

 the next day, the Saturday holiday, promising- a return 

 of the wealth entrance fees had brought me. The propo- 

 sition was received with great enthusiasm. Early next 

 morning we went at it; and with a couple of borrowed 

 teams we made things lively, and by night the job was 

 so nearly finished that in a couple of days more, and with 

 a boy or two to help, that corn was gathered, and a diver- 

 sion created in my favor. It was pretty generally ad- 

 mitted that "that darned boy" had the stuff in him, if it 

 could only be steered in the right direction. My stock 

 had advanced several points. My governor, who greatly 

 admired pluck, was heard to say that I displayed con- 

 siderable versatility, as I made a pretty good warrior one 

 day and a very fair farmer the next, with a probable 

 preference for the scalping line as being the easiest. 



nr. 



The advent of a circus in a country town in the days 

 I write of was an event. Ail business was suspended. 

 The farmer left his plow in the furrow, and the horses 

 were transferred to the farm wagon with its double 

 chair for the old farmer and wife, while behind the hired 

 man and a boy or two sat on the straw and a bag of-oats, 

 and for creature comforts a cheese-box was provided 

 filled with head cheese, cold potatoes and doughnuts. 

 The admission money (25 cents) was a serious matter, 

 and the old lady had to bring forth the long stocking 

 containing the family savings kept hidden away in a 

 secret place only known to herself. In those days a dol- 

 lar was as big as a cart wheel. The hired man had to 

 make a special draft on his wages of $8 per month and 

 the boys had to do some tall financeering to raise their 

 12^ cents. Boys in those times knew nothing of pocket 

 money, velocipedes, silver watches and nickel-plated 

 skates. I had the reputation of being a bloated capital- 

 ist, it being known that I was possessed of the sum of $2, 

 and in consequence had numerous applications for dis- 

 counts, with collaterals of skates, sleds and jack knives. 

 The approach of a circus, heralded by large handbills, 

 threw the whole town into a state of intense excitement. 

 The one at hand combined a menagerie, with a real 

 elephant, a rhinoceros and a fierce mountain lion (rep- 

 resented on the bills as dining on a couple of unfortunate 

 Africans). There were to be two performances. In a 

 rash moment I had invited a certain young lady with a 

 wealth of very red hair, for whom I had a secret passion ; 

 and when I ushered her to the entrance a wild shout 

 arose from sundry small boys who for financial reasons 



