Fauna.— The wild animals of the park are protected by government laws and as a conse quence are becoming more numerous than in other parts of the Rocky Mountains. A herd of buffalo is one of the features of the place. Another wild herd numbering about 50 indi viduals is glimpsed occasionally. The animals found here are deer, antelopes, elk, mountain lions (pumas), beaver, black and brown bears and moose. Sheep are found on the high lands. Grouse is found in some parts, but there are not birds in this region. Fish abound; trout arc in many streams.
Government and Improvements.— Since 1872 the government has had entire control of a portion of what is now the Yellowstone Na tional Park and later took control of additional lands, and now has entire jurisdiction over all the park. The administrative officials are under the Secretary of the Interior. An army officer is the superintendent in direct charge and he has as his aids a detachment of Federal troops. On 1 July 1900 the Secretary of the Interior gave to the public the following instructions: The following rules and regulations for the government of the Yellowstone National Park arc hereby established and made public pursuant to authority conferred by section 2,475, Revised Statutes, United States, and the act of Congress approved 7 May 1894: (1) It is forbidden to remove or injure the sediments or incrustations around the geysers, hot or steam vents; or to deface the same by written inscription or otherwise; or to throw any substance into the springs or geyser vents; or to injure or disturb, in any manner, or to carry off any of the mineral deposits, speci mens, natural curiosities or wonders within the Park.
(2) It is forbidden to ride or drive on any of the geyser or hot spring formations or to turn loose stock tograze in their vicinity.
(3) It is forbidden to cut or injure any growing timber. Camping parties will he al lowed to use dead or fallen timber for fuel.
(4) Fires shall he lighted only when neces sary and completely extinguished when no longer required. The utmost care should he exercised at all times to avoid setting fire to the timber and grass and any one failing to comply therewith shall he punished as prescribed by law.
(51 Hunting or killing, wounding or captur ing of any bird or inild animal, except danger ous animals, %s hen necessary to prevent them from destroying life or inflicting an injury, is prohibited. The outfits, including guns, trap,
teams, horses or means of transportation by persons engaged in hunting,.laWrig, trapOng, ensnaring or capturing such birds wild mals, or to possession of game killed in the park under other circumstances than prescribed above, will be forfeited to the United States. ex cept in cases where it is shown by satisfactory evidence that the outfit is not the property of the person or persons violating this regulation, and the actual owner thereof was not a party to such violation. Firearms will only be permitted in the park on written permission from the super intendent thereof. On arrival at the first station of the park guard, parties having firearms will turn them over to the sergeant in charge of station, taking his receipt for them. They will be returned to the owners on leaving the park.
(6) Fishing with nets, seines, traps or by the use of drugs or explosives, or in any other way than with hook and line, is prohibited Fishing for the purposes of merchandise or profit is forbidden by law. Fishing may be pro hibited by order of the superintendent of the park in any of the waters of the park or limited therein to any specified season of the year. till otherwise ordered by the Secretary of the In terior.
(7) No person will be permitted to reside permanently or to engage in any business in the park without permission, in writing, from the Department of the Interior. The superintendent may grant authority to competent persons to act as guides and revoke the same in his discretion and no pack trains shall be allowed in the park unless in charge of a duly registered guide.
(8) The herding or Fazing of loose stock or cattle of any kind within the park as well as the driving of such stock or cattle over the roads of the park, is strictly forbidden., except in such cases where authority therefor is granted by the Secretary of the Interior.
(9) No drinking saloon or bar room will be permitted within the limits of the park.
(10) Private notices or advertisements shall not be posted or displayed within the park, ex cept such as may be necessary for the con venience and guidance of the public., on build ings on leased ground.