484 
[Dec. 18, 1897. 
YELLOWSTONE PARK FISH AND 
GAME. 
LiEtTTENANT Ei-MER LujDSLET has been charged by Col. 
Young, the Superintendent of the Yellowstone Park, with 
the duty of protecting the game of that reservation. In 
order that this important work shall be fully carried, out de- 
tailed instructions have been given the troops at different 
stations in the Park, and these instructions will from time 
to time be supplemented by others, as may be necessary. 
The following extracts from a report by Lieut. Lindsley, 
dated Nov. 4, 1897, gives the latest information of the con- 
dition of game and fish in the Park : 
Fishes. 
The waters of the Park have been stocked as follows (re- 
port of superintendent, 1893): 
In 1889: East Fork of Gardiner above falls, 1,000 black- 
spotted trout; Gibbon River above Virginia Cascade, 990 
rainbow trout; Madison River above Keppler's Cascade, 995 
Loch Leveu trout; Gardiner River above falls, 4,975 brook 
trout; Yellowstone River above falls, 3,000 whitefish; Twin 
Lakes, 1,000 whitefish. 
In 1890: Shoshone Lake, 34,013 lake trout; Shoshone 
Lake, 3, 350 Loch Leven trout; Lewis Lake, 13,013 lake trout; 
Lewis Lake, 3,350 Loch Leven trout; West Fork of Gardi- 
ner above falls, 7,850 brook trout; Nez Perce Creek, 9.850 
Von Baer trout; Yellowfitone River above falls, 10,0C0 
whitefish. 
All of these plants, except that of the whitefish in the Yel- 
lowstone, were made in previously barren waters. No trace 
has ever been found of the whitefish in either the Yellow- 
stone River or the Twin Lakes. 
The rainbow trout planted in Gibbon River seem to have 
come down over the cascades; but very few are found above 
the cascades, while below the stream is well stocked to its 
junction with the Firehole. 
No Loch Leven trout have ever been found in the Madison 
(Firehole) above Keppler's Cascade, but the brook trout are 
very numerous there. Evidently, through some error, the 
fontiiialis were planted there instead of the Loch Leveu. 
The brook trout in Gardiner River and in the West Fork 
(Glen Creek) have thriven and bred abundantly, especially 
in Willow Creek. These streams, however, being easily 
accessible from the wagon roads, and the brook trout taking 
the fly so eagerly, have been fished out to such an extent 
that in August last it was deemed advisable to prohibit fish- 
ing in them for a time. This was done, and the order has 
not yet been revoked; it probably may be revoked next sea- 
son — for a part of the season at least. 
The Von Baer trout in Nez Perce Creek have multiplied 
abundantly, and not only this stream, but the Firehole 
River, from the Lower Falls to Keppler's Cascade and Iron 
Creek, arc abundantly stocked, as is also the Little Firehole 
below Mystic Falls. In the Firehole Basin is also found an 
occasional brook trout, evidently come down Keppler's Cas- 
cade, and a considerable number of the native mykiss. Sev- 
eral good specimens of rainbow trout have also'been taken 
from the Little Firehole, near its mouth. I cannot account 
for the presence of the rainbow in this locality, as it seems to 
me plainly impossible for any fish to ascend the Lower Falls 
of the Firehole. 
I have never heard of any fish being taken from Shoshone 
or Lewis lakes. I have seen fishes of apparently 3 or 4lbs. 
weight in Shoshone Lake, aud a skeleton has been found on 
the shore of Shoshone Lake of a fish that probably weighed 
lOlbs. Two soldiers of Troop D, 4th Cavalry, reported 
having seen tchools of trout 3ft. long near the moutli of 
De Lacy Creek in Shoshone Lake. 
In 1893 brook trout were planted m Shoshone Creek, and 
these have thriven amazingly; the stream is now literally 
alive with trout from l|^lbs. down. 
In 1895, 500 black bass were planted in some small land- 
locked lakes in the Firehole Basin; nothing has been seen of 
them since, and I fear that all have perished. 
In the Yellowstone aud both forks of Snake River, with 
most of their tributaries, the native mykiss is indigenous 
and remarkably abundant. In the Madison River and its 
North Fork the mykiss, whitefish and grayling are Indige- 
nous; and in the Firehole River, between its junction with 
the Gibbon and the Lower Falls, the mykiss, rainbow, Von 
Baer, fonUrialis, grayling and whitefish may be taken from 
the same pool. 
I believe that bass would thrive in the small lake near the 
Gardiner River where ice is cut for the post; also in Moose 
and Loon lakes in the Falls River Meadows, and recommend 
that these lakes be stocked with bass. The former can be 
stocked at any time of year; the latter only in summer. 
1 hope that a hatchery will be established here, and some 
employee of the Government instructed in the artificial prop- 
agation of trout, A folding canvas boat is much needed for 
ascertaining the condition of plants made in several lakes 
remote from a wagon road. 
Birds. 
Pelicans, geese, ducks, gulls and sandhill cranes are 
numerous, There are some swans. All of these birds nest 
here. Oapreys, hawks and eagles are fairly numerous. 
There are a few sharp-tailed grouse, but in the main the alti- 
tude is too great for them. The big mountain grouse is 
fairly abundant all over the Park, and broods of the ruffed 
grouse are found in many places. Sage grouse have been 
seen in the Park, but are very uncommon. The jay family 
is represented by the magpie in some parts of the Park, and 
by the Clark's crow, moose bird and crested jay in all parts. 
The little water ousel, a very curious and interesting bird, 
is fairly common, especially on the Gardiner and Gibbon 
rivers. Robins, kingfishers and other small birds abound. 
Animals. 
Buffalo- — ^But very few buftalo have been reported this 
season. The scouts, however, seldom see much sign in the 
summer, and now the few remaining buffalo are scattered 
and range in the most remote and inaccessible parts of the 
Park in summer. I am confident of finding twenty-five this 
winter when the snowshoe season sets in, and hope there 
are nearly double this number in the Park, Since Idaho has 
forbidden the killing of buffalo — as have Montana and Wy- 
oming — I have strong hopes of being able to protect them 
from further slaughter by poachers. Whether they will 
still decrease on account of natural causes only time can 
tell. A strong effort is being made to protect them and to 
saye the remnant, if possible,; 
Moose. — Moose are becoming quite numerous in the south 
part of the Park, and particularly in the southern forest re- 
serve, where I believe there are more moose than in all the 
rest of the Park. There are rumors of a band between Mam- 
moth Hot Springs and Grand Canon, but this rumor will not 
be verified before snow falls. I most earnestly recommend 
that Congress be urged to include the forest reserve in the 
Park. This reserve is now under charge of the Park man- 
agement, with orders to protect the game therein. The only 
practical change which would take place in the status of this 
strip, were it included in the Park proper, is that the law of 
May 7, 1894, would then apply to it, and poachers could be 
prosecuted and punished by law, whereas now it is only 
under executive orders. 
JS^^^.— Notwithstanding the hard winter of 1896-97, which 
killed many elk and drove many more out of the Park, there 
is no perceptible diminution in their number. I believe that 
more than 5,000 winter in the Park, and that at least 15,000 
leave the Park in the autumn to winter in the lower country. 
I happened to be at the south boundary of the forest re- 
serve this year, just after the first snowstorm on Oct. 13 and 
14. The country about Jackson Lake was literally alive 
with elk, and from the best estimates I believe that 10,000 
crossed the south boundary this fall. Many go down the 
Madison to winter ; some down the Gallatin and some down 
the Yellowstone. All that survive the winter return to the 
Park to raise their young as soon as the snow will permit 
their return. Of those that winter in the Park, the largest 
herd ranges north of the Yellowstone River, in the country 
that it has been so often proposed to cut off from the Park. 
I doubt if any more would ever winter in the Park under 
any circumstances if this should liappen. The Park fur- 
nishes an ideal summer range for 40,000 elk, but there is not 
enough winter range for one-fourth that number. 
Sheep. — There are several bands of sheep that range along 
the higher mountains of the Park. A very fine bunch win- 
ters close to the post, on the slopes of Mount Everts. This 
bunch numbered about thirty last winter. There are smaller 
bunches in the northeast corner of the Park, some along the 
range between Swan Lake Flat and the Madison Basin, and 
a considerable number in that portion of the forest reserve 
east of the Park. It is difficult to make an estimate of the 
total number in the Park, because of the inaccessibility of 
their range, but I am confident of more than 100, and be- 
lieve there are 300 in the Park. 
Deer. — Deer are numerous, and in the summer are distrib- 
uted over the whole Park. Their protection has as yet 
offered no difficulties and probably will not for many years 
to come. Probably 300 winter in the immediate vicinity of 
the post and are very tame. A few white-tail deer inhabit 
the lower and more open portions of the Park. 
Anidoin. — Last winter drove many of the antelope out of 
the . Park, and of the number which left but few ever re- 
turned. A year ago there were probably 1,000 antelope in 
the Park ; now I doubt if there are half that number. Their 
winter range is at the base of Mount Everts, between the 
Yellowstone and Gardiner rivers. This range has become 
infested with coyotes, which kill many antelope and worry 
the rest of them, until I am satisfied that unless the coyotes 
can be driven away or killed the antelope will be driven 
from their winter range and will not return, 
Bears. — The bears have increased and are quite numerous; 
the small black bears are very fearless. They frequent the 
garbage dumps at all the hotels, and are objects of much in- 
terest to tourists. If let alone they are quite harmless, and 
tlie enjoyment they afford tourists more than offsets the mis- 
chief they do. 
Wolvenne. — Wolverine, while not plentiful, are distributed 
over a large part of the Park, though they are seldom seen 
by tourists. 
Coyotes. — Coyotes are very numerous in certain sections. 
They do some damage to the water fowl and kill some of the 
young elk, but the antelope is the greatest sufferer from their 
depredations. If a large number of coyotes could be gotten 
rid of it would doubtless be a great benefit to the other game 
in the Park. 
There are some mountain lions, but these are rarely seea 
and do no material harm. 
Fur-bearing Animals. — The beavers are quite numerous 
in tlie Park, and inhabit the following localities: Gardiner 
River near the post, Lupine and Blacktail creeks, Elk 
Creek, the Lamar River, Slough Creek, Cache Creek, Soda 
Butte Creek, a few in Pelican Creek, the Upper Yellowstone, 
Thoroughfare Creek, a few in Barlow's Fork of Snake 
River, some in Falls River Meadows, a few about Shoshone 
Lake. There is a flourishing colony in Nez Perce Creek, a 
large one near the mouth or Magpie Creek, and a goodly 
number in the Gibbon River near Norris. There are some in 
Cascade Creek and in the lake, and all the creeks that drain 
into the Gardiner River above the falls. The lower beaver 
dam, opposite Obsidian Cliff, has been rebuilt. I think 
there are more beavers in the Park now than at any time 
within the last six years, and if unmolested they will rapidly 
increase. Their protection, however, is one of the most 
diflicult duties intrusted to the Piffk management. They are 
now quite valuable and very easy to trap, and their skins are 
easily disposed of. The professional beaver trapper leaves 
almost no sign of his work, and it is very hard to catch him 
at his work 
Otters are fairly abundant and have increased since the 
barren streams have been stocked with fish. 
Marten are plentiful and are widely distributed, as are 
the Canadian lynx and wildcat. 
Mink are quite plenty; foxes are plenty, and there are a 
goodly number of black and cross foxes. There are some 
badgers and many muskrats, ground hogs, squirrels, skunks, 
porcupines and rabbits. Of the last we have the cotton- 
tails, a few jack rabbits, many snowshoe rabbits, besides 
the pika— tiny rock rabbits. 
On the whole the Park is a grand success as a game pre- 
serve. The variety of species is great, and the condition of 
most of the species is satisfactory. The exceptions to this 
are: first, the buffalo, which are undoubtedly away from 
their natural range, the open plains; and next the antelope, 
which are suffering from lack of suitable winter range, and 
from the depredations of coyotes. The elk problem is not a 
serious one as yet, but it undoubtedly will be in a few years 
unless more suitable territory is provided for winter range. 
This territory can now be acquired with little dilficulty and 
at insignificant expense, and if it is acquired promotly there 
will always be elk hunting about the edges of the Park. The 
longer the acquisition of this winter range is deferred the 
more difficult it will be, until perhaps a few generations 
hence the elk problem will become as diflicult as that of the 
buffalo UQW. Respectfully submitted. 
ElMEK LiNDSLEy, 
Second Lieutenant 4th Ciivalry 
Squirrel Ways. 
Editor Foo'est and Stream: 
Messrs. Rice and Davison are right. The red squirrel 
when he has the opportunity is an indefatigable worker to 
store up nuts for future use. 
Some years ago I went to an unused closet in my country 
house and I found one of the drawers level full — over a 
bushel — and another drawer partly filled with butternuts. 
The outside shucks were peeled off and the nuts nicely 
packed away. These nuts were taken from an adjoining 
shed chamber and carried through a hole in the rear of the 
closet. We afterward saw the squirrel at his work, which 
we ended with an airgan. 
At the time of writing several of these rascals are busy 
lugging off frozen apples from an outbuilding. 
"The common woods mouse also lays up a supply of food 
for winter use; they peel and store in hollow trees quantities 
of beechnuts. These deposits of several quarts each are 
often found by woodchoppers in the winter season, especially 
if it has been a good beechnut year. 
A word about the "Compass Points of Nature." In our 
northern latitudes the tops of the large hemlocks bend toward 
the northeast, and the moss on hardwood timber is on the 
north side of tree — that is, the greatest portion of the moss on 
those trees will be on their northern side, etc. 
Stanstbad. 
Sheldoji, N, Y. 
'^wf^ md 0m 
The "Briers" Pictures. 
TasaE are twenty -nine illustrations in the current edition of Game 
Laws in Brief, most of them fuU page half-tones, and all admirably 
printed. The book is a beauty, and well worth having for the illus- 
trations which, Mr. Charles Hallock says, so well represent America's 
wilderaess sports. The Brief gives all the laws of the United States 
and Canada for the practical guidance of anglers and shooters. As 
an authority, it has a long record of unassailed and unassailable ac- 
curacy. Forest and Stream Pub. Co. sends it postpaid for 25 cents, 
or your dealer will supply you. 
WHAT IS CRUELTY TO ANIMALS? 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In Forest and Stream of Oct. 30, Didymus, an old con- 
tributor, and one who always writes to the point, touches on 
the cruelty of drawing squirrels from their holes with the 
worm on the end of a ramrod, and then throwing the animal 
to the dogs. In the most barbarous days of my boyhood I 
never saw nor heard of such a beastly practice. It is, or 
should be, abhorrent to every sportsman — man or boy. But 
Didymus goes me "one better" when he decries shaking a 
coon from a limb among the dogs. A coon — especially an 
"Ole Mr. Coon" — can take care of himself if dropped among 
a few ordinary curs such as are used for coon hunting, un- 
less they are backed by the himters. An old he-coon is 
more than a match for the ordinary coon dog, even if there 
are several of him. 
A square fight is relished by most men, whether in politics 
or on a coon hunt. I love to see my terriers shake a rat be- 
cause I believe a rat should be well shaken after taken, and 
if they should by mistake get hold of that domestic tiger 
which we call a cat I do not grieve, because 1 know that 
some young birds will be spared. With Didymus 1 am in 
favor of protecting all useful life, but man makes war on most 
wild animals. He Idlls them for food, for fur or for sport. 
Coon hunting may be said to embrace all three of these rea- 
sons, yet many of us have engaged in it for sport alone. I 
have arrived at a time of life when I am too tender-hearted 
to kill a deer or to shoot at a quail, for fear that my dog 
should brfng it in alive and I would have to pinch its head. 
In that case the contest is over, the blood is cool ; and while 
I do not object to others doing these things, they are not 
sport for me. 
Our tender-heartedness takes unto itself our differing men- 
tal faculties. Some well-meaning man had a law passed in 
the State of New York forbidding public rat killings by ter- 
riers, and a gentleman who takes pride in the ability of his 
terrier to clean up from ten to a hundred rodents in a given 
time cannot indulge in the pastime without fear of the peni- 
tentiary. I may turn over rubbish in order to let my terrier 
shake a rat, but 1 must not trap the rat and let it loose in a 
ring where the dog is to be put. From my point of view 
this is sentimental nonsense. The terrier may enjoy the 
sport, but I may not. The death of the rat is quick and 
painless as much in the one case as in the other; the dog likes 
the fun and I like it. As I understand the law, it is the in- 
stinct of the terrier is to kill rats, and this may be all right 
in case the dog catches the rat in the open, with or without 
human aid; but it is brutal for a man to enjoy the killing 
and to buy rats for the purpose of seeing his dog shake 
them. That is all that can be said on that side, and the 
case is weak. 
Dog fighting is brutal because it is between domestic 
animals, and the contestants are usually so well matched that 
one, or both, often dies. Bull fighting, as practiced in 
Spanish countries, would be a cheerful spectacle if the poor 
horses were spared and only the men were killed; but a rat! 
Every man's hand, boot and gun are ready to help exterminate 
this enemy of graneries, poultry yards and markets. The 
bite of the terrier is the quickest and most merciful death it 
can meet, and I love to see the rat pass from this world in 
that sudden paralysis which comes from a quick shake by a 
terrier that dislocates the spine and destroys the nervous sys- 
tem in a moment. It is the happiest deatk a rat could die. 
Memory recalls the reply of some noted Eoglishman, possi- 
bly a D. D., who was rebuked for loving fox hunting. 
Said he: ''The dogs love it, the horses love it, I love it, and 
nobody ever heard the fox say he didn't love it." 
All of this I would ask Didymus to consider. I admire 
the sentiment which he expresses and profoundly respect his 
views regarding cruelty to animals, but it is possible that 
each man, especially a sportsman, may entertain ideas which 
are peculiarly his own on what constitutes cruelty. Surely 
a few doga nipping at the hind quarters of a bear and hold- 
ing him at bay until the' hunter can come up is not cruelty. 
Neither, rnejudiai, is the shaking of a fighting coon to the 
dogs below, from whom it often escapes, a bit of brutality 
to he enjoyed "as heartily as rowdies enjoy a dog fight." 
Didymus has his heart in the right place, and if he is 
"shocked" at the description which Mr. Louis Benson Akin 
gives of "fun," that is his privilege. Some monarch gave 
up his attempt to make several watches run alike, and long 
ago I realised the impossibility of setting people to tliioi 
