14 BULLETIN 1346, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
the antelope conference^ and still maintains a keen interest in an- 
telope conservation. 
In 1917 and 1918 representatives of the Biological Survey investi- 
gated and reported on the antelope situation in that region with a 
view to the possible establishment of a Federal refuge. In 1919 the 
secretary of the American Bison Society visited the area in company 
with a representative of the Biological Survey, and later recom- 
mended to his organization that it interest itself in the establishment 
of the proposed refuge. 
Ever since the refuge was first proposed the National Association 
of Audubon Societies, through its Oregon representative, William 
L. Finley, has taken an active interest in it; and in 1923, through 
the efforts of the Biological Survey and the National Association of 
Audubon Societies, a meeting of stockmen of Lakeview was held, 
and favored the creation of a Federal wild-life refuge, with the 
understanding that local stockmen within the area should continue 
to retain their grazing and other rights. It was as a result of this 
meeting that resident stock growers attended the antelope conference 
in Washington, as set forth above. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF ANTELOPE REFUGES IN NEVADA 
In 1923 Gov. J. G. Scrugham, of Nevada, who had been empowered 
by the State legislature to create 25 State game refuges, requested 
the assistance of the Biological Survey in determining suitable loca- 
tions, particularly those to be made for the protection of antelope. 
E. R. Sans, supervisor of predatory-animal and rodent-control work 
of the Biological Survey in the State, consulted with the governor, 
and as a result two antelope refuges were established — the Washoe 
State Recreation Ground and Game Refuge, lying mainly in Washoe 
Count3% in extreme northwestern Nevada, adjoining Oregon (PI. V, 
fig. 1) ; and the Humboldt State Recreation Ground and Game 
Refuge, on the northern border of the State, adjacent to Owyhee 
County, Idaho. Following their establishment, on recommenda- 
tion of Mr. Sans, who was familiar with the region, enlargements 
of these refuges were made by the governor to include adjacent 
districts specially frequented by antelope herds. 
At the time of its creation the enlarged Washoe refuge was be- 
lieved to contain about 2,000 antelope, and the Humboldt refuge 
about 1,000. The Washoe refuge lies adjacent to that part of south- 
eastern Oregon which for some years has been under consideration 
as the possible site of a Federal refuge for antelope and sage hens. 
The Humboldt refuge lies immediately to the south of that part of 
southwestern Idaho which also has been considered as a possible 
Federal antelope and sage-hen refuge. The establishment of refuges 
in adjacent parts of Oregon and Idaho would thus afford protection 
to the antelope herds passing back and forth across the border in 
this great tableland region, which is obviously so favorable to the 
perpetuation of these animals. 
Predatory-animal hunters under Mr. Sans's direction had been 
working for a long time destroying coyotes and other stock- and game- 
killing animals in the region covered by the Nevada State antelope 
refuges. Work for the destruction of predatory animals in these 
