Evening journal., 1891-01-05
ALASKA NATIVES MAY sTARvs-
White Men Have Destroyed the whale,
Walrus and Other Road SnnnIien.

Walrus and Other Food Supplies.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5--Dr. Sheldon Jack.
son, Of Illinois, United States general agent
OF education in Alaska, has submitted
preliminary report to the commissioner Of
education on his observations in that ter.
ritory last summer. He says that the Is.
Guimaux from time immortal have lived
upon the whale, the walrns and the seal Of
their coasts; the fish and aquatic birds OF
their rivers, and the caribou or wild rein.
deer of their vast inland plains. The cup.
ply OF these in years past was abundant
and furnished ample food FOR all the peo.
pie. But fifty years ago American whaiers
having largely exhausted the supply liz
other waters, found their way into tl.
Northern Pacific ocean. Then commenced
for that section the slaughter and destruc
ton Of whales that went steadily forYymr
At the rate OF hundreds Of thousands an.
nnaliy, until they were destroyed ana
driven out Of the Pacific.
They were then followed into Behriri
sea and the slaughter went on, the whsle
taking refuge among the ice fields oi th
Arclie ocean, and thther the whn,er- al
lowed. Ia this relentless hunt tho rom
nAnt have been driven still farther lnff
the inaccessible regions around the Nnrli
Pole, until they nre no longer within tii
rsach OF the natives. Dir jackson, sRl,
that the great herds OF buffalo that one
ronmed the western prairles have been ~
terminated for their pelts, ~ the whale
have been sacrificed for the fat that ~
eased their bodies With The dedructsai
OF the whale, one large source Of ipu,
supply for the natives bas been cat uil
Another large supply was derived fr0n
the walrus, which once swarmrd Ia great
numbers in the northern seas. The wlalers
then turned their attention to the walvts
destroying thousands annually for the SAX,
OF the ivory ia their tasks. Dir. Jack.oi
says that where few years ago the wRlrg.
were 80 numerous that their beilowinls
were heard above the roar OF the waves
this year he cruispd for weeks without ser
ing or hearing one.
Tie walrus as a source of food supply is
already practically extinct, aud the sea-
and sea lion, he says, once SO common III
Behring sea, nre now becoming 80 scarce
that 1t is with difisulty that the natives
procure n sufficient number Of skins fU
cover their boRts and their flesh, because
OF its rarity has become lGyury
Five million cans Of salmon ss annually
shipped by American canl1. .es from
Alaska, ald the business which is still IT.
its infancy, the report says means st.srva
ton TO the natives in the near future Ilr
jackson says that in this crisis il is ina
portaut that steps should be taken at once
by the present congress TO afford relief by
apprOpriating money 20 feed them. rs Is
now done IN the case OF many North
American Indians. Ia conclusion DIR
Jackson says that congress should appro
priate MONEY which III effect would re-
claim and make valuable vest arens OF
land otherwise worthless, would Introduce
large permanent aud wealth producing
industries where none previously Existed,
aud would take a barbarian PEOPLE on tbr
verge Of starvation and lit them up u
comfortable self support ard civilization 4"