170 
Chamois for the Rockies, 
Editor Forest and Stream: . 
I dip the following from the editorial columns of the 
Sacramento (California) Union: 
“The latest proposition advanced by those who are 
eternally planning to introduce new varieties of animals 
and plants is to establish chamois in the Rocky Moun- 
tains. In the districts where chamois would have any 
chance of survival whatever is found a larger and finer 
creature, closely akin to the chamois, known as the Rocky 
Mountain goat. In all ways is the American animal su- 
perior to its European cousin. In some cases approaching 
400 pounds in weight, covered with a shaggy coat which 
gives it the appearance of a small buffalo, it is a creature 
worthy the effort of any hunter. But the Rocky Moun- 
tain goat, because of inadequate protection, is fast becom- 
ing extinct. It would seem that the common sense thing 
for those who advocate the importation of chamois to do 
would be to devote their efforts tO' the saving from ex- 
termination the more desirable native variety. Nature 
has provided for every portion of our country mammals, 
birds and fishes well adapted to the needs of the locality, 
and the introduction of foreign animals simply means, in 
case they survive, the crowding out of some native form.” 
The well intentioned editorial voices a sentiment which 
is more widespread than is usually supposed, but which, 
I think, would be reversed were the subject_ given pro- 
founder study and thought. I am heartily in favor of 
having animals from other worlds introduced into our 
woods and mountain fastnesses, our prairies and swamps. 
It has ever been a dream of mine to found a society for 
the promotion of the idea, but when, _ years ago, I 
broached the project I was almost invariably repressed 
with an assertion or reply denoting infeasibility. The 
nuisance of the imported English sparrow was pointed 
out to me, as well as the fact that the rabbit when intro- 
duced into' Australia became a pest there. Examples of 
the miscarriage of benevolence in attempts to introduce 
plants and fish were also held up to show me the futility 
of my “Quixotic schemes,” as they were often termed. 
Finally I dropped exploiting my hobby, but yet have 
nursed the idea of once again endeavoring to form a plan 
for concerted action of persons who might possibly be in 
sympathy with me, to place the project in action. 
It is therefore pleasing to me to read that a proposition 
to establish chamois in the Rocky Mountains is seriously 
entertained. In my judgment that enterprise should re- 
ceive the hearty support of every sportsman. It is feas- 
ible, laudatory and desirable. A nomadic residence of 
twenty-five years in the Far West has given me oppor- 
tunities to study and observe conditions pertaining to the 
introduction of new animals. Our prairies, forests and 
mountains need replenishing. I can clinch my arguments 
with facts for those who are doubters or skeptics, and if 
Forest and Stream will give me the space I shall be glad 
to furnish data to overrule all objections to the restora- 
tion and rehabilitation of our natural game preserves. 
And the sooner we begin in this good work the better, for 
I would like tO' reap the benefit of the effort, as well as 
to see results thereof handed down to posterity. 
There are important economic questions involved also ; 
one of them being in the necessity to foresee the problem 
that is framing itself as to how tO' provide sustenance for 
this nation which is growing so rapidly in population. 
Even now the prices of meat, fish, game and poultry is at 
times prohibitive to the masses. Our pastoral resources, 
on the other hand, are getting to their limits of acreage 
for production, though the introduction of the automobile 
in displacing the horse will enable us to devote a greater 
acreage to the raising of cereals, etc., for the direct use 
of man. 
But our barrens, plains and deserts, not adapted -to fos- 
tering or supporting domestic stock, may -be made of ser- 
vice by the introduction of a variety of game. --Bilt the' 
selection and disposition or distribution would have to be 
made judiciously and intelligently. It ' is of itself a 
science. 
And let those who fear that the chamois, for instance, 
would crowd out the cimmarron (Rocky Mountain sheep) 
or the niazama (Rocky Mountain goat) allay their fears 
at once. There is plenty of room. And by all means let 
us have a variety. Let us make the Rocky Mountains a 
perfect magazine of game, especially of the cervine and 
allied tribes. If they get toO’ numerous and threaten to 
overrun civilization, why, let’s organize “drives,” round 
’em up, and slaughter ’em at wholesale as they do- rabbits 
once in a while in Idaho and Colorado. 
In the past fifteen months the writer has traveled over 
a large portion of the mountainous region of five counties 
in northeastern California, to wit: Butte, Nevada, 
Plumas, Sierra and Yuba counties, covering an area of 
about 4,000 square miles. What struck me most forcibly 
was the almost entire absence of big game in large areas 
that once teemed with it. I made one trip last fall_ by 
wagon from Gibsonville to Fall River, twenty-six miles, 
and every mile through a forest of pristine beauty,_ and 
in all of that' day’s drive we saw not a single specimen 
of any kind of game, neither large nor small, and not 
even a rabbit, squirrel or chipmunk. Near Pilot Peak, 
in the other direction in the head waters of Nelson Creek, 
an important tributary to the Middle Fork of the Feather 
River, is Grousehill. At one time grouse _ were there in 
thousands. Now a hunter would be lucky if after a day’s 
diligent search he found a brace of them. Doves were 
once very plentiful in Nevada county, and it was easy for 
many years, to bag a few thousand for the annual camp 
stew at Indian Springs of the Nevada County Sports- 
men’s Association. But at the stew last moiith a paltry 
300 doves were brought in and the deficiency had to be 
made up with veal and chicken. It was stated that forest 
fires had driven the doves out of Nevada county. 
Deer are seldom seen nowadays in any of the counties, 
named above where once there existed districts where the 
winter’s meat for whole communities was derived _ from 
deer. Killing them out of season has about exterminated 
theme hereabouts. Bear, however, are so plentiful in this 
portion of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as to be a nui- 
sance to stockmen (cattle, sheep and horse growers), as 
well as to ranchmen. The latter find it necessary in some 
places near Downieville to keep traps set at all times, and 
ruthlessly kill bears and feed their carcasses to the hogs. 
The ( 31 d World ought to be ransacked for animals for 
installation in the Sierra and Rocky Mountains. Europe, 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Asia and Africa could give us rare specimens. Especially 
desirable would be the ruminants of the Nearctic division. 
There is a great variety bf antelope suitable for the lower 
altitudes. Not only give us the chamois or ibex, but also 
let us welcome the springbok, musk-deer, haartebeaste, or 
any animal that has a hoof, either solid or cloven. Even 
the wild boar from the Black Forest might be an accept- 
able innovation in the forest reserves of the Sierra Ne- 
vada Mountains, especially that portion where the oak 
thrives, and acorn mast is plentiful. Let us have a 
variety of game. Wm. Fitzmuggins. 
The Maine Moose Problem. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The moose problem in Maine is a perplexing one and 
has been for the last few years. Those best acquainted 
with the facts relating to moose feel the approach of 
their possible extinction. To make certain the perpetuity 
of this noble race and still allow the honest and conscien- 
tious sportsman to take a reasonable amount each year 
requires no small amount of wisdom. Notwitstanding 
the fact that good wardens and other good game pro- 
tectors are to- be found in nearly every portion of Maine’s 
hunting grouns; this monarch of the-Pine Tree State is 
slowly but surely wending his way to- where the birch, 
bark horn will no longer decoy him. Sad but true are 
these words, unless proper measures shall speedily be 
adopted to cause an increase in the numbers. Here is the 
problem. How can it be done? Surely not by the meth- 
ods now employed. To my mind, it is only a matter of a 
few years when there will be few if any moose left worth 
hunting. 
The law provides that one moose can be taken by any 
hunter each year, but that one must be a bull. Here is 
where the trouble lies. I- believe that one moose is enough 
for any hunter in one year, but when the law says that 
that one must be a bull, I maintain that the law is in the 
wrong. Nature has provided that a certain number of 
each sex of all animals shall exist to propagate their 
species. Interfere with that provision and you reap dis- 
aster. Now then, the law in Maine does not allow you 
to shoot a young moose, but you must take the very best 
specimens. When you do this you leave only the small 
bulls and few in numbers. It is a well known fact 
that a calf runs with its mother until -it is a year old. 
Now, if in a certain territory where moose abound and 
there are only a few small bulls, and these the offspring 
of some of the cows in that same locality, there is much 
danger of interbreeding, which is not conducive of a 
healthy progeny. No man of sound judgment would 
allow interbreeding in his domestic stock, and if with the 
law you force such a condition upon our moose what 
can be expected but a deteriorated race? 
Change the law so that any hunter can take one moose, 
be it bull, cow, calf or what not, and you will equalize 
the killing so that nature can carry on her wonderful 
work with much less interruption than under the present 
system. Tsciennetto. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Possibly the attorneys for the defendant in the Silz 
case, lately decided, and discussed in your editorial of 
a recent date, overlooked that part of the opinion of 
the Court of Appeals of this State in People vs. Boot- 
man, 180 N. Y. I, which discussed the present law on 
the subject of the possession - of game in the closed 
season. It may be recalled that one of the principal 
reasons why, in the Bootm;^ casej, the court held that 
defendarifs had not violateif^he law was because the 
statute in force when the . Alleged offense, involved in 
that case was commuted. -taTled to say, clearly, that it 
applied to game importednnto the State at a time when 
its possession then was lawtul. and then disposed of 
during the closed season. The court said, referring to 
the present law: “While the Legislature did not act 
in time to affect this action, it has since removed all 
M.oubt as to its previous intention,, by so amending the 
Forest, Fish and Game law as to provide that ‘Where- 
ever in this act the possession of fish or game, or the 
flesh of any animal, bird or fish is prohibited, reference 
is had equally to such fish, game or flesh coming from 
without the State as to that taken within the State’ 
(L. 1902, ch. 194). That amendment, when read in con- 
nection with the Lacy Act, and the decisions of the 
Federal Courts, removes from the region of discussion 
the question considered in the Buffalo Fish Co. case 
in relation to the application of the Forest, Fish and 
Game law to imported game, which was decided, and the 
effect of the Commerce Clause of-the Federal Constitu- 
tion, which, although discussed, was not decided. 
Matter of Rohrer, 140 ,U. S., 545; Vance vs. Vandercook 
Co., 170 U. S., 438. * * * The right to pass laws 
for the protection of game being conceded, as in view 
of authorities it must be, the method of affording pro- 
tection is necessarily within the direction of the Legis- 
lature. It may provide a close season for the taking of 
game, and may prohibit the possession or sale of game 
during that season. It may close the game market 
throughout the State during the period of prohibition, in 
order to remove the temptation from poachers and pot- 
hunters who are not apt to run the risk of taking game 
out of season if they cannot sell it. To do this effec- 
tively it may be necessary to close the market as to 
game taken without the State, as well as within, for 
there are no marks by which birds killed in Michigan 
can be distinguished from those killed in New York. 
When enacting a game law the Legislature may pro- 
vide for its ready enforcement, not simply by making 
the possession of game during the closed season pre- 
sumptive evidence of a violation of the statute, but it 
may go further and, in order to prevent evasion, fraud 
and perjury, may prohibit the possession of game in 
this State during the closed season, even if it were taken 
in another State and brought here during the open sea- 
son. The action of Congress has taken away all ques- 
tion of interstate commerce, so that the State can act 
with entire freedom, and can prevent the shipment of 
game into or out of its own territory; and if game is 
imported it can regulate and prohibit the sale thereof. 
Such provisions are warranted by the police power, and 
[Aug. 26, 1905. 
are not in conflict with either the State or Federal 
Constitution.” 
_ It seems to me that this declaration of a well estab- 
lished principle of game law is applicable to the Silz case. 
It is quite true, as contended by the defense in that Case, 
that the purpose and object of our statute was to protect 
the game of our State, but it is equally true, and a fun- 
damental principle of law, that, conceding that the Legis- 
lature has the power to do- a certain thing, the means 
by which it shall be accomplished rests with the Legisla- 
ture. If that body reasonably determines, as it has done 
in the present law, that in order to protect our game, it 
is necessary that the possession or sale of all game dur- 
ing the close season shall be prohibited, then its decision 
on that point is final. The necessity of such a provision 
has almost universally been conceded. If we allow the 
sale of imported game we not only increase the tempta- 
tion to kill our own game but we place a premium on the 
violation of the game laws of other States, and if we 
fail tO' prohibit the export of game we add another temp- 
tation to those who wish to destroy , our own game. It 
may . be that, incidentally, a hardship is imposed in the 
Silz case, but that is merely an incident to the enforce- 
ment of a just law, and such a question appeals to the 
law-making power only. Mhth the wisdom or expediency 
of such laws the courts have nothing to do. 
New York, Aug 1905. JOSEPH B. THOMPSON. 
Hunting in the Adirondacks. 
It was on a cold, frosty morning about the last of 
September that I started with my guide on a hunting 
trip in the Adirondack mountains. The mist was just 
rising from the lake, and in places around the shore 
could be seen patches of beautifully colored leaves which 
had failed to escape the touch of the late frost. 
, The call of the loon could be heard out on the lake, 
which was broken occasionally by the splash of a trout 
as he leapt from the water seizing some unfortunate fly. 
On the bank one might hear the bark of a red .gquirrel 
as he hopped briskly from pine to pine chattering to him- 
self all the way. Slowly the fog lifted and as the sun 
rose over the mountains, Ben, for this is the name of my 
guide, announced that the grub was in the packs, so tak- 
ing a blanket and what duffle I needed, we stepped into a 
nine-foot boat, and rowed to a landing at the southern 
end of the lake. Here we got out, and after tying a yoke 
in the boat, Ben shouldered it and his pack, while I car- 
ried my own pack, the blankets, two rifles and an ax. 
Ben took the lead noiselessly up the trail and I fol- 
lowed close to his heels. After walking about four miles 
we came to a large creek, and followed it up a short dis- 
tance to a small cabin. Ben announced that this was to 
be our camping place, so pushing open the door we en- 
tered, and found it contained three beds, a small cook 
stove, several cooking utensils and some heavy dishes. 
The small porch in front had been gnawed to pieces by 
the hedge hogs that made their nightly visits to the' 
camp. After chopping a supply of wood Ben ,preparedi 
dinner, which was comprised of boiled ootatoes, bacori,, 
pancakes, for which all Adirondack guides have a repu- 
tation, and a few brook trout which I managed to take: 
from the creek with a fly. 
After dinner was over and the dishes washed Ben sat 
on the front porch, his feet crossed over the railing, his 
arms folded, while he puffed leisurely at a large corncob 
pipe, and peered vaguely out across the creek and into 
the thick woods beyond Thus he sat for some timer 
while I ran a ramrod through my rifle barrel and filled 
my cartridge belt with shells. Suddenly he, arose and 
shouldering his rifle summoned me to follow. It was 
now about 5 . .o’clock and the sun was fast. setting in the 
w^est, giving a purple hue tO' the mountains across 
the creek, and tinting the clouds with: gold. Lifting the 
boat that had been set beside the camp, Ben walked :down 
an indistinct trail to the creek where he once more'low^- 
ered the boat and pushed it silently into the water. Step- 
ping to my side he requested me to be as quiet as pos- 
sible and . to take good aim before shooting. I stepped 
into the bow- of the boat facing the front, while Ben sat 
in the stern and paddled. 
Not a sound could be heard from the paddle which 
moved slowly back and forth in the water urged by the 
skill of expert hands. Slowly we went with the current 
for nearly a mile. The sun had already disappeared be- 
hind the mountains, and we could begin to feel the chill 
of the coming night. Suddenly we came to a sharp bend 
in the creek, which was heavily wooded on both sides. 
Just around the bend we could distinctly hear the splash: 
of some animal wading through the water. I turned' 
slowly and looked at Ben, who had stopped paddling and! 
was holding the boat perfectly still, while his head was; 
bent slightly forward. His face bore an expression of 
great . expectancy, and his gaze was directed with alert- 
ness in the direction of the bend. He pointed his finger 
toward the sound and motioned for me to- be on the alert, 
so lifting my rifle I prepared for a shot at whatever our 
game might be. The chill seemed more penetrating than 
ever, and over my body came a cold perspiration. 
With one great effort I threw off my nervous feeling, 
at the same moment Ben gave a sweep of the paddle and 
the boat swept slowly around the bend. There in a patch 
of deer grass stood a large doe with her back toward us, 
and feeding leisurely, while she switched her white tail 
from side to side. I had taken aim at her and was about 
to fire when a hissing sound from Ben caused me to 
lower my gun and turn-around. A nod from his head 
toward the shore caused me to look in that direction, and 
there, half hidden by a bush, stood a large eight-point 
buck.' I raised my rifle once more and as I did so the 
deer stepped out and stood in a broadside position near 
a large pine tree. 
“Quick ! quick !” whispered Ben, so taking a careful 
aim I fired, and as I did so the doe bounded into the un- 
derbrush on the other side of the creek and whistled off 
into the woods. The buck made a sho'rt leap and fell. 
I threw another shell into the barrel of my rifle, and 
as I did so the buck rose -again and started to run. I 
was about to bring my rifle to my shoulder to' finish 
him, when I was startled by a shot from my guide and the 
buck fell dead in his tracks, a bullet through his heart, 
while the one I had shot had struck a little below. Ben 
cleaned the deer, and in about half an hour we were back 
to camp enjoying a good square meal. M. Dixon Dodd. 
Possession of Foreign Game. 
