The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-12

game has scorrespondinglyde ecreassd, and in the winter the Indians there have hard time securing food, as they are very improvident, During the season when it is abundant they never thinK of laying by a supply. There are beavers on the stream and various kinds of deer, bear, and caribou. In the winter months these go south and dis appear almost entirely. The polar bear is found several degrees further north, never appearing in that vicinity.
 In the mountain streams which feed the Yukon river, up toward it's head, near the Kathul Mountain, there are mountain trout of good size and flavor.
 Many of these streams dry up in the
 winter, as they are fed by glaciers,
 which, of course, in cold weather are frozen entirely. The salmon is found in
 the Yukon but only lower down, toward
 St. Michael. Occasionally they are
 caught high up on the Yukon, but the
 water is rather cold for them. There is
 a sort of fish known as the White hsh
 which is found near the Klondike river,
 and is said to be excellent eating. It
 ranges in size about the same as our
 black bass, and is one of the chief
 mainstays of the Indians, In winter if
 it is not too cold, holes are cut in the
 ice and the fish pulled out by means of
 bone hooks. They are more plentiful
 than any other kind, and the ice cold
 water appears to be their natural
 habitat
 Early in the spring water fowl, such as ducks, geese, and swan, put 1t an appearance, but they do not tarry long, and Wend their way after stay of only a few days. They are very plentiful when they do appear, and the natives kill them by hundreds. The trouble is, however, that things of the kind do not last as they do in warmer climates Reindeer formerly were seen in very large numbers on the Yukon, some two or three hundred miles from where the Klondike flows into it, and a gentleman who spent two or three winters there several years ago stated to the reporter that he had seen a herd of at least 5000 cross the river on the ice in one day. He also saw moose and caribou in herds | of large number, but such an occur renee is an unusual rather than com
 mon one.
 | Klondike Would-be prospectors should bear in mind the fact that in that re- zion, where game is scarce, the ap- petite is something wonderful. All
 kinds of food is eaten with relish, par ticularly anything that has fat or grease about it. The sharp air in- creases hunger nearly a hundred-fold. and 1t is necessary to have plenty of provisions in order to withstand the l temperature of sometimes as much as l 6S below zero. Persons who have passed | the winter there state that it is much better not to touch alcoholic liquors, as | the after effects from indulgence in them are much worse than any benefit which may be derived from temporary stimulation.
 | Tea is considered one of the best things which can be taken, and 1t is drunk in large quantities, strong and as
 hot as possible. This seems to keep the heat in and the cold out better than anything else. All kinds of canned goods are excellent and dried fruits or l lime juice should be included in every bill of fare, as scurvy is prevented by l making use of them. It is necessary to use large quantities of salt meats, which produce the disease
 l It is believed by travellers up the Yu-
 kon river that vegetables which grow rapidly could be raised profitably in the summer months. Potatoe it is thought could be brought to fruition without trouble, and turnips also. The latter have been raised successfully by mis- sionaries 400 or 800 miles or so from the
 source of the river. The sun there is said to have very strong power in the | three or four months of summer, and in hothouses lettuce and other vege- tables could be raised easily.
 l It is believed by many who do not
 understand the situation thoroughly 1 that it is not allowed to any one to take provisions into that country the syndi- 1 cate furnishing them for S400. This Is g
 mistake. The syndicate merely does not allow any one to transport them ur ! the Yukon river, reserving that right for itself. If they can be taken tt
 Juneau or either the Chilkat or Chilkoor pass they can be transported over the mountains on muleback, and this i! much the closer way. The cost ol
 transportation, however is considered expensve.-Washing Evening Star