pasture land, 1,000,000 acres are irrigable and fit for agricultural purposes, and about 750,000 acres are good timber lands. At the present time there are at least 25,000 acres under cultivation. GAME AND FISH IN NEW MEXICO. In the early days New Mexico was the paradise of the hunter and trapper. The earliest explorers of this Territory and what is now the State of Colorado, in the first quarter of the present century, came here in the pursuit of their chosen calling of fishing, trapping, and hunting. The old trapper was a peculiar individual and many are the tales which are yet told by the oldest inhabitants of the adventures and experiences of Kit Carson, Bent, Williams, and their associates in the far West. The old Santa Fe trail for years to come will be an everpleasant theme for song and story of those hardy explorers who were the precursors of the civilization which we now enjoy. The coming of the railroad and the great influx of settlers throughout the Rocky Mountain country deprived the old hunter and trapper of his means of sustenance and to-day he is but a memory. In the early days, while yet the hostile Indians roamed the Great Plains, game of every kind was plenty. The buffalo, the deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, and all the smaller varieties of wild animals were here on every hand. To-day the buffalo, like the old plainsman and hunter of the past, is only a tradition. In the mountains, however, there are yet remaining deer, bear, mountain lion, and elk, turkey and grouse, beaver, and big-horn sheep and mountain goats, as well as all the other smaller varieties of game which attract the sportsman and the hunter. All of this class of game is to be found in the mountains, from Colorado on the north to the great spurs and ranges extending to and covering the extreme southern portion of New Mexico and the northern part of the Republic of Mexico. In the highest mesas and near the peaks of our greatest mountains are found the sheep, goat, and elk. In every mountain range of consequence in the Territory may be found the black, cinnamon, and silvertip bear, the latter a small variety of the grizzly, but entertaining enough upon occasion to satisfy the true sportsman's heart to a nicety. It may truthfully be said that deer are comparatively in plenty in this Territory. The day was when great herds of antelope roamed the plains and valleys lying to the east of the main range of mountains in New Mexico, but to-day they are scarce, comparatively few remaining. Those which may be found are located in eastern Valencia, Bernalillo, and Guadalupe counties, while some have been seen as far north as Union County and as far south as Lincoln, Chaves, Eddy, Otero, Donna Ana, Grant, and Sierra counties. On the plains and in the valleys can be found quail, pheasants, Mongolian or Chinese pheasants, prairie chickens, and during the seasons geese, brant, ducks, plover, curlews, and snipe. In every stream of consequence in New Mexico is found the Rocky Mountain trout. A gamer fish never rose to a fly. The principal streams where this delicious fish may be caught are the Pecos, Chama, Brazos, Navajo, Rio Pueblo, Santa Clara, San Antonio, Jemez, Los Pinos, Bonito, Mora, Sapello, Manuelitas, Gallinas, and Ponil, mostly in the northern and middle portions of the Territory, and also in all T the mountain streams in western Socorro and Sierra counties in the south. In some of the streams of Lincoln and Chaves counties are found great quantities of black bass, of a kind, however, not so gamy as his brother of the lakes and rivers in the North. It may be safely said that there is yet remaining in the United States proper no place where game is more abundant or true sport more obtainable than in New Mexico. The Territory, wisely anticipating the results caused by the inroads. which are constantly being made upon the game everywhere throughout the Union, have passed very stringent laws relative to the slaughter and selling of game. An act was passed by the legislature last winter making it unlawful to kill or trap wild turkey, grouse, or partridges in New Mexico, except that such birds may be killed with a gun only during the months of October, November, and December, and quail may be killed with a gun only during October, November, December, and January. shall also be unlawful during the next five years to kill in this Territory elk, deer, antelope, or mountain sheep except upon private ground or property by the owner thereof or with his permission. The open season for fishing begins with June and ends with October of each year. The penalties for violation of the acts of 1897 are very severe and comparatively easy of enforcement, the burden of proof being upon the person charged with violation of the provisions of the act. In no event can any game be exposed for sale which has been killed within the limits of the Territory, and the burden of proving that any game or fish has been killed outside of New Mexico, when exposed by butchers and dealers in the markets for sale, is upon the dealers and butchers; a very wise provision, as experience in prosecutions has demonstrated. A system of game wardens is established by the act. The wardens are appointed by the governor, and they are clothed with the authority of making arrests, the same as the sheriffs of the several counties. The wardens hold their offices at the pleasure of the governor, and the executive is not restricted as to the number which he may appoint. Under this law the game of New Mexico is being thoroughly protected, not only for the benefit of our citizens, but for any and all true sportsmen who may see fit to come here for a month's enjoyment of the hunting and fishing which is to be had in our mountains, mesas, plains, and streams. A cordial invitation is extended to all of true sportsmen's instinct to a participation in the enjoyment of the sport of kings, with an assurance that the hand of welcome is always extended to those who come for the enjoyment and not to the abuse of the privilege. The sportsmen visiting New Mexico need have no fear regarding accommodations, as proper conveyances can be secured at any point on the railroad by giving short notice, while at any of the principal towns he will find livery stables well supplied with teams and mountain wagons especially kept for the convenience of hunting and fishing parties, and who can furnish reliable drivers who are familiar with every desirable locality in their section of the Territory and whose charges are very reasonable. THE PRESS. Of the 21 counties in New Mexico, newspapers are published in 20. The cities, towns, and villages in which papers are published number 32, of which 20 are county seats. Of the 68 papers published in the Territory, 5 are daily, 57 weekly, and 6 monthly. Politically the papers are divided as follows; Republican, 31; Democratic, 16; Democratic-Populist, 6; Independent, 3, and the remaining 12 religious and educational. The papers, particularly the dailies, have large circulation and are influential in their respective communities. Much of the development of the Territory is due to the energy and enterprise of the newspaper men, which has been a labor of love, for in New Mexico, like in many other States and Territories of our Union, the new paper business is not, from a purely financial standpoint, a lucrative one. The following is a list of newspapers printed in New Mezico: Bernalillo County: Albuquerque Abogado Christiano Neo Mexicana (Spanish and English) Citizen (daily) Methodist Democratic-Populist La Bandera Americana (Spanish) Republican Citizen (weekly) Journal-Democrat (daily). Republican La Hormiga de Oro (Spanish). Republican University Bulletin (monthly). Educational Gallup 638 Ятаро REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO. IN CONCLUSION. Those who read the preceding pages will do so, it is hoped, with the Every prediction for prosperity made early in the year is now in a |