Charles Frederick Holder

Holder was an early proponent of wildlife and fishing conservation.
In this book, his writing effectively extolls the natural riches of the counties in southern California. Although not to today's standards of conservation, I appreciate that throughout this narrative, Holder argues for the sportsman's role in conservation. Without sportsmen (and I will add, women), he suggests that there cannot be an awareness at the societal level of the value of these natural regions.

I have "dipped in and about" rather than reading this from cover to cover. It's an interesting time, historically, but I've never been even lukewarm about most of the type of hunting described here.

I did like some of the descriptions of the south California wilds. The influx of people building so extensively within this fragile ecosystem, developing a massive highway network and the impact of internal combustion machines have a lot to answer for ~ not nearly enough of this beautiful habitat was set aside to remain undeveloped.

Perhaps I will not be popular for declaring such heresy, but whatever. Was I wallowing in a time past? I think so. This 2020 pandemic is possibly affecting my appreciation of what I'm reading.… (más)