402

1890.] THE AMERICAN BUFFALO. 97

never separate, except that the old bulls leave the herd when
whipped out by the younger ones.

A market for buffalo and cross-bred robes undoubtedly is to
be expected in all parts of the world, wherever the thermometer
reaches zero. The fur-bearing animals are almost if not
entirely gone. The Hudson Bay Fur Company are disbanding
their forces, because there are no more furs to buy; and furs
are of as much value as pure gold. A good bull's head is worth
200 dollars. One all ready for setting up, full size, would cost
200 dollars; and could be mounted upon arrival as preferred.

Col. Jones says that in the Garden City herd there are no
females for sale, nor any crosses for sale till the fall of next
year. He would sell a few bulls, but not a car-load. When
asked what he had for sale in the way of buffalo and crosses,
by a party who contemplated starting a herd of these animals -
such as would wink at blizzards and storms, and something that
even lightning could not strike -the Colonel replied that he
had just what was required, but that he would only sell a few
bulls on these terms: - Bull calves, ready to wean, 300
dollars each; yearlings, 400 dollars; two-year-olds, 500 dollars;
three-year-olds and upwards, 750 dollars. These prices we
have no hesitation in publishing, as we presume they are
meant to be prohibitive.

There is at present no fixed market for the products of the
buffalo. Only one steer, three-fourths buffalo and three
years old, has been as yet slaughtered in the Garden City herd.
Fifty cents per lb. has been offered for a whole carcase, seventy-
five dollars for a choice head, and two hundred dollars for choice
head and hide for taxidermists' purposes. At this rate a bull
would figure as follows: -

Meat - 1,200 lb. at 50 cents per lb. ... 600 dollars
Head and hide ... ... ... 200 "
Total 800 ''

Cross-breds would compare about the same. Cows would
range about 500 dollars each.

Asked if he would sell his herd of buffalo and half-breds to a
syndicate, and if so, what would be his lowest figures, the
Colonel replied: - "Yes, I would sell; but my figures would
scare you so badly I fear that you would never recover. I
might sell one half-interest to a company or individual, at what
I would consider fair figures, but I would not sell unless I could
have the management of the herd."

Certainly the robe of the "seal buffalo " is destined to take
a very high place in the fur emporiums of the world. It has
all the iridescent qualities of the real sealskin, and is as fine
and soft, though longer in the fur, and some are striped like a
tiger. All hail! thrice hail to this new and truly American
industry.
R. C. AULD.