14 
PHEASANT RAISING IN THE UNITED STATES. 
death, his son Thomas continued the experiments, but they proved 
unsuccessful.® 
These initial importations were followed by similar attempts to 
stock private preserves, but met with like failure. About thirty 
years ago, however, a successful effort was made to introduce the 
ringneck pheasant into Oregon, and since then acclimatization 
experiments have followed broader lines and have assumed greater 
importance. It will be convenient to consider these later ventures 
by states. 
Oregon.—In 1880 Hon. 0. N. Denny, then United States consul-general at Shang¬ 
hai, shipped a lot of ringnecks to Oregon. All died on the way but 12 cocks and 3 
hens, which were liberated 12 miles from Portland, near the mouth of the Willamette 
River.& The next year Judge Denny shipped another lot of ringnecks to Oregon, 
of which 28 (10 cocks and 18 hens) arrived safely at Portland and were liberated on 
the ranch of his brother, Mr. John Denny, in the Willamette Valley in Linn County. c 
These birds increased rapidly and spread until they became thoroughly established 
in the State. A shooting season of two and one-half months was opened in 1892, and 
50,000 were reported to have been killed on the first day. In 1896, 10,000 were 
marketed in one month, nearly double the number of native grouse sold V 
The successful stocking of Oregon with ringneck pheasants at once aroused general 
interest in the United States, and requests for birds began to pour in. To meet the 
demands, numerous pheasantries were established in Oregon, and were soon doing a 
thriving business. The following list of shipments of pheasants from Oregon in 1899 
indicates the widespread interest in the industry: Washington, 107; California, 187; 
Arizona, 2; New Mexico, 10; Idaho, 2; Montana, 9; Colorado, 73; Oklahoma, 2; 
Indian Territory, 6; Kansas, 3; Arkansas, 4; Missouri, 4; Iowa, 9; Illinois, 31; In¬ 
diana, 17; Ohio, 7; Tennessee, 12; Georgia, 12; Virginia, 6; Pennsylvania, 2; New 
Jersey, 2; and Massachusetts, 2; total, 509 . e Orders for pheasants for even Alaska 
and Mexico have been filled from these Oregon pheasantries. Most of the efforts to 
transplant the bird have failed, owing chiefly to unsuitability of locality or improper 
methods of handling, but in the region of original introduction the ringneck is now a 
permanent addition to the game list. It is fairly well established in Oregon, Wash¬ 
ington, and British Columbia: 
Massachusetts.—In Massachusetts state pheasantries were established at Win¬ 
chester and Sutton in 1894. The first year’s experiment with a setting of English 
ringneck pheasant eggs was unproductive, and in 1895 a few ringnecks were obtained 
from Oregon. The account of succeeding years, as told in the annual reports of the 
Commission of Inland Fisheries and Game, is a record of patient endeavor to sur¬ 
mount obstacles—cold and wet seasons that diminished the vitality of eggs and chicks, 
various diseases, mistakes in feeding, destruction by rats, deterioration of stock 
through inbreeding. These and minor difficulties marked one of the most thorough, 
capable, and untiring attempts to raise and liberate pheasants under state auspices 
a Turf Register, II, 227, Jan., 1831; III, 79, Oct., 1831. 
6 Annual Report Department Agric. for 1888, p. 485, 1889. 
c Report of Fish and Game Protector of Oregon for 1895-96, p. 85, and letter from 
Hon. O. N. Denny, quoted in report of Massachusetts Fish and Game Commission for 
1894, p. 17, 1895. 
d Report of Fish and Game Protector of Oregon for 1895-96, p. 89, 1896. 
e Rept. of Game and Forestry Warden of Oregon for 1899-1900, pp. 7-8, 1901. 
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