FOREST AND STREAM. 







THE annual meeting of the National Associa- 
tion of Game and Fish Wardens and Commis- 
sioners was held at Fort Yellowstone, Yellow- 
stone National Park Aug. 9 and to. The mem- 
bers and delegates met at Mammoth Hot 
Springs Hotel, Thursday, Aug. 8. A visit was 
paid to Gen. S. B. Young, Superintendent of the 
National Park, who tendered the association 
the use of the government buildings and other 
conveniences for its meetings. 
On Friday morning, Aug. 9, the association 
was called to order by Fresident William F. 
Scott, of Montana. Secretary George L. Carter, 
of Nebraska, having resigned, Charles A. Vogel- 
sang, of California, was appointed temporary 
secretary. 
General Young, superintendent of the park, 
Was introduced and extended a warm welcome 
to the convention. In a very interesting and in- 
structive way he the administration 
of the park as a game refuge and propagating 
preserve. Referring to the buffalo in the park, 
discussed 
General Young stated that the herd now num- 
bers sixty-five head, about half of which are 
kept in a corral near the fort and the balance 
in a more remote location. The increase has 
been slow but sure, but, unfortunately, the in- 
crease in number of males exceeded that of the 
COWS. 
Owing to the rigid enforcement of the park 
regulations and the more strict enforcement of 
the game laws by surrounding States, there is 

now little or no poaching of big game in the 
park. The National forests surrounding the 
park and their regular patrol further serve as 
an added protection to the game in and _ sur- 
rounding the park. 
here are Jarge numbers of elk now in the 
park, and the surplus overflows into the sur- 
rounding States to keep up their supply. There 
are also many antelope in the park, and, owing 
to the change in the Montana law permitting 
one of these animals to be killed by each hunter 
each season, it will be necessary to guard them 
much more closely than formerly to prevent 
their extermination, 
President Scott made a response to General 
Young’s address of welcome. then invited Col 
\nderson, former acting superintendent of the 
park, who was present, to address the meeting. 
Col. Anderson’s address was exceedingly inter- 
esting. He was first stationed in the park in 
1881. Up to that time little or no effort had 
been made to protect the game in the park, and 

the surrounding States were equally lax. His 
entire force of assistants consisted of one scout 
or guide However, his support was gradually 
increased until he was finally able to reduce 
poaching to a minimum. 
Major Allen, commander of Fort Yellow- 
stone, recently transferred from the Phil-ppines, 
who has charge of the policing of the park, 
Was in attendance at the meeting and addressed 
the wardens, assuring them of his hearty in- 
terest in game protection and preservation. 
A score or more letters and teleorams from 
members who were unable to attend were read 
Dr. T. S. Palmer, of Washington, D. C., in 
chat yame preservation under the Bureau 
of Biological Survey, Department of Agricul- 
ture, was present at the meeting and gave an in- 
structive address. [ 
“ge oO} 

As chairman of a committee 
appointed for that purpose he reported that a 
complete [ the game laws of all the 
States of the Union had been prepared, carefully 
digest of 
indexed, and would soon be distributed to ail 
the State wardens and commissioners of the 
United States. A digest of all court decisions 
on game cases has also been prepared and will 
soon be printed and distributed, 
Novel features in recent game 
were enumerated by Dr. Palmer, 
legislation 
also. the 
Annual Meeting of Game Wardens. 

growth of the license idea. He pointed out 
which commissioners would encounter 
from large revenues from this source and sug- 
gested proper ways to avoid them. 
What Dr. Palmer terms “the new game pro- 
tection” was urged as contrasted to the older 
methods, which have all been devoted to curtail- 
ing the hunting privileges. As an aid to the 
older method he advocated artificial propaga- 
tion and feeding of wild game, calling attention 
to the success achieved in the Yellowstone 
Park. He gave the history of the importation 
of English pheasants and the success or fail- 
ures attending the attempts to establish them 
in various sections of the country. He pointed 
out that the failures were largely due to lack of 
abundant food and shelter, which are essential 
to success with these birds. 
A summary of the reports of the State war- 
aangers 
dens and commissioners of the Northwestern 
Rocky Mountain States and of the superin- 
tendent of the Yellowstone National Park was 
presented by Dr. Palmer, showing conclusively 
the effect of protection as affecting big game, 
and especially the increase due to the absolute 
protection afforded in the park. 
In Colorado deer have increased materially 
in the past four years. while elk are nearly ex- 
tinct, owing to the inroads of the tooth-hunters. 
Antelope are increasing. Deer are also  in- 
creasing in Idaho; elk are overflowing into the 
State from the park; a considerable and increas- 
ing number of moose are found: antelope are 
increasing under absolute prorection, and it is 
estimated that there are three or four hundred 
mountain sheep in the State. 
In Montana a great increase has been noted 
in deer and elk—the latter due chiefly to the 
refuge afforded by the National Park. The 
verds seem to consist chiefly of cows, they being 
rotected, few old bulls being found. Some 
noose and caribou are known and seem to be 
increasing, Owing to absolute protection. Ante- 
ope are numerous, but owing to recent legisla- 
:On creating an open season on them. will 
doubtless be greatly reduced this year. Moun- 
ain sheep and seem to be increasing 
slowly. 
In Wyoming there is a herd of about two 
1undred elk in the Big Horn Mountains, and 
goats 

deer are increasing slightly. There are a few 
more moose and a close season has been es- 
tablished on this animal until 1912. Antelope 
are decreasing at an alarming rate. 
{n the National Park, where no hunting or 
shooting is allowed at any time, deer have been 
growing tamer and more numerous year by 
year. They may be seen in all parts of the 
park. In the winter they come down by hun- 
dreds to the parade ground at Fort Yellow- 
stone and to the alfalfa meadows at Gardiner. 
No estimate can be made as to their number, 
which is known to be very large. 
Elk have been maintained at the maximum 
number which can be supported in the park, 
about 25,000, for several years, the increase 
overflowing into the adjoining States to re- 
plenish their supply. Year by year this animal 
has learned to confine its range more and more 
to the park boundaries. Elk confine their sum- 
mer range to the higher altitudes bordering on 
the snow line of the mountains where the more 
tender and juicy grasses are found, and insect 
pests are absent, but, with the approach of 
winter, move down into the valleys and even 
out into adjoining States, seeking their food 
and, in many cases, creating havoc with the 
ranchman’s winter supply of hay. Several hun- 
dred tons of alfalfa have been cut and stacked 
by the Park superintendent this season for the 
use of elk for winter feed. 
Next to deer and elk, the antelope are most 
numerovs of the large game animals in the 
park. There are known to be at least 2,000 in 

that part of the Park adjacent to the alfalfa 
meadows at Gardiner, where hundreds of them 
feed even in summer. A few moose are known 
to be in the park, but they confine their range 
io the more 1emote and -naccessible regions 
and are seldom seen. Mountain sheep and goats 
have not increased as rapidly as might be 
wished, owing, probably, to the ravages of 
disease and predatory animals. About a hun- 
died sheep are known to make their home on 
Mount Everts, opposite Fort Yellowstone. 
The herd of buffalo, referred to before, are in 
fine, healthy condition and are greatly increas- 
ing in number. 
One of the most interesting addresses was 
made by L. T. Carleton, chairman of the Com- 
mission of Inland Fisheries and Game of Maine. 
Maine is one of the oldest game States, yet, 
owing to a wise system of protection, is to-day 
the greatest hunting and fishing resort on the 
continent. During 1906 the Maine commission 
collected $41,000 from nonresident license sales, 
charging $5 for bird license and $10 additional 
for big game. Mr. Carleton estimates that $15,- 
coo,ca0 is left in Maine every season by the 500,- 
coo nonresident tourists who vist it in cuest 
of fish and game. It is estimated that for at 
least five years past 25,000 deer and 500 moose 
have been killed annually and the supply does 
not seem to diminish, yet in 1867, when at- 
tention first began to be given to game protec- 
tion in Maine, moose and deer were-all but ex- 
tinct. Caribou disappeared suddenly several 
years ago and have not returned. 
Maine has an admirable system of licensing 
guides, 2,100 being registered at presente sLaxie 
dermists and camp keepers are also required to 
register and take out licenses. An alien hunt- 
ing license of $15 is also charged. No resident 
license is required. Mr. Carleton strongly 
favored congressional protection of migratory 
birds. 
David E. Farr, the newly appointed State 
game and fish commissioner of Colorado, reported 
game conditions improving in that State. A uni- 
versal hunting license, guide license and taxider- 
mist license, being required. The Colorado law is 
novel in form, being permissive instead of pro- 
hibitory, all birds and animals being absolutely 
protected except wherein special permission is 
given to kill them. 
Gen. George Stone, president of the Cali- 
fornia Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, 
and Chas. A. Vogelsang, chief deputy, both 
discussed California game conditions and game 
laws. That State has recently enacted a uni- 
versal license law and will collect a revenue of 
$75,000 from that source the first year. An 
alien license fee of $25 is charged and non- 
residents are required to pay $10 for hunting 
privileges. 
One interesting fact brought out was that the 
much-despised carp is no longer dreaded in 
California but is regarded as a desirable food 
for the black bass, which are known to be 
thriving and increasing in carp infested waters. 
California has had marked success in the intro- 
duction of new species of fish and in the propa- 
gation and distribution of native species of 
both salt and fresh-water fish. 
Dr. Geo. W. Field, chairman of the Massa- 
chusetts Commission of Fisheries and Game, 
and John W. Delano, superintendent of hatch- 
eries of the same State, both addressed the con- 
vention. The Massachusetts commission is sup- 
ported by direct appropriations, no license fee 
being charged. It furnishes one of the most 
striking examples of successful game protection 
in the country. This State, while the most 
densely populated of any State in the Union, 
save Rhode Island, has wild deer in every 
county. Deer are absolutely protected and have 
heen for some years, except that farmers have 
the option of killing them when destroying their 




















































































































































