As a food-producing animal, located in the southern hill forests and taking care of itself, “there’s millions in it!” But it must be kept under fence; for in no southern (or northern) state would any such mass of juicy wild meat long be permitted to roam at large unkilled.  Through this species I believe that a million acres of southern timber lands, now useless except for timber growth, could be made very productive in choice venison.  The price would be,—­a good fence, and protection from poachers.

The Indian sambar deer looks like a short-legged big-bodied understudy of our American elk.  It breeds well in captivity, and it is of quiet and tractable disposition.  It can not live in a country where the temperature goes down to 25 degrees F. and remains there for long periods.  It would, I am firmly convinced, do well all along the Gulf coast, and if acclimatized along the Gulf, with the lapse of time and generations it would become more and more hardy, grow more hair, and push its way northward, until it reached the latitude of Tennessee.  But then, in a wild state it could not be protected from poachers.  As stated elsewhere, Dr. Ray V. Pierce has successfully acclimatized and bred this species in his St. Vincent Island game preserve, near Apalachicola, Florida.  More than that, the species has crossed with the white-tailed deer of the Island.

Living specimen of the Indian Sambar deer are worth from $125 to $250, according to size and other conditions.  Just at present it seems difficult for Americans to procure a sufficient number of males! We have had very bad luck with several males that we attempted to import for breeding purposes.

The Mallard Duck.—­A great many persons have made persistent attempts to breed the canvasback, redhead, mallard, black duck, pintail, teal and other species, on a commercial basis.  So far as I am aware the mallard is the only wild duck that has been bred in sufficient numbers to slaughter for the markets.  The wood duck and mandarin can be bred in fair numbers, but only sufficient to supply the demand for living birds, for park purposes.  One would naturally suppose that a species as closely allied to the mallard as the black duck is known to be, would breed like the mallard; but the black duck is so timid and nervous about nesting as to be almost worthless in captivity.  All the species named above, except the mallard, must at present, and in general, be regarded as failures in breeding for the market.

Of all American ducks the common mallard is the most persistent and successful breeder.  It quickly becomes accustomed to captivity, it enjoys park life, and when given even half a chance it will breed and rear its young.

Unquestionably, the mallard duck can be reared in captivity in numbers limited only by the extent of breeder’s facilities.  The amount of net profit that can be realized depends wholly upon the business acumen and judgment displayed in the management of the flock.  The total amount of knowledge necessary to success is not so very great, but at the same time, the exercise of a fair amount of intelligence, and also careful diligence, is absolutely necessary.  Naturally the care and food of the flock must not cost extravagantly, or the profits will inevitably disappear.