Evening star., 1897-07-27
THE UPPER YUKON REGION
Conditions, Not Theories, Which Confront
the Prospector, for Gold.
Some of the Troubles Encountered by
Visitors to the Field-EOOd
,nl
supply a Factor.

It Is not necessary for everybody to feed
on dog meat on the Upper Yukon river and
In the vicinity of the Klondyke gold field
In winter, as member of a party which
was up there said several Of the members
did. He refused the dish, but at the same
time he acknowledged that more than once
after food had been thrown to the dogs.
literally speaking, he had snatched it away
from them before they could eat it. Fish
which small worms had appropriated to
themselves he did not hesitate to eat, he
said, and was glad to get IT.
Ihat Is one of the great troubles which
Will be encountered by persons visiting the
gold field. The farther up the Yukon one
travels the scarcer becomes the food sup
ply, until in the Klondyke region and there
abouts 1t ceases almost entirely. There is
practically no large game, with the ex-
ception of.one or two moose and retndeer
Whlch nave become separated from the rest
OF the nerd and wandered out there. So
that prospectors who intend visiting the
field should not rely in the least ON the re-
sources OF the country to feed them. There
may be few rabbits, ducks and geese in
Ihese are not sufficient to supply even the
wants OF the few natives who wander no.
madically about the region
Where Game is Found.
Lower down the Yukon, at certain sea-
sons OF the year, there is abundance of
game, probably from 400 to 800 miles from
the hiondyke river. The moose Is about
the largest of the mammals, while the rein
deer is fairly plentiful. AS the populate
has increased the game has corresDonding-
ly decreased, and in the winter the Indians
there have a hard time securing food as
they are very improvdent During the
c n hlln dan
think of laying by supply. There are
beavers on the streams and various kinds
or deer, bear and caribou. In the winter
months these go south and disappear al
most entirely. The polar bear is found
several degrees farther north, never an
pearng in that vicinity
IN the mountain streams which feed the
Yukon river, up toward its head, near the
OF good size and flavor. Many of these
streams dry up in the winter, as they are
led by glaciers, which. of course, in cold
weather are frozen entirely. The salmon
Is round IN the Yukon, but ouly lower
down, toward St. Michaers. Occasionally
they are caught high up on the Yukon, but
the water is rather cold for them. There
Is sort of fish known as the white fish
Which Is found near the Nlondyke river
ana is SAID to be excellent eating 1t ranges
In size about the same as our black lass
and Is one of the chief manstays 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 tl,e ice
cold water appears to be their natural
habitat.
Fowls I'm the Spring.
Early in the spring water fowl, such as
ducks, geese and swan, put in an appear-
ance, but they do not tarry long and wend
thelr way after stay of only few days
They are very plentiful when they do ap-
pear, and the natives kill them by hum
dreds. The trouble is, however, that things
OF the kind do not last as they do In
warmer climes.
REINDEER formerly were seen in very large
numbers on the Yukon, some two or three
hundred miles from where the Klondyke
hoWs INTO 1t, 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 occurrence is an unusual rather than a
common one
Rev. Sheldon Jackson, the Alaskan agent
for the promotion of education in that
country, employed by the bureau of edu-
cation here, of which Mr. Harris is head,
1t is stated will import go reindeer from
Lapland this year for domestic purposes
Mr.. Jackson went to Alaska in the spring
and has the welfare of the people there
greatly at heart. He has known SO many
the deer, it is thought, will greatly allie
viate the sufferngs of the people. 1t is
almost impossible to instill in them the
idea of being provident. Samuel c. Dun
ham, statistical expert of the United States
department of labor. is authority for the
statement that Mr. Jackson will import the
deer.
Appetite Sharpened,
klondyke would-be prospectors should
bear in mind the fact that in that region,
where game is scarce, the appetite is some-
thing wonderful. All kinds of food is eat
en- with relish, particularly anything that
has fat or grease about it. The sharp air
increases hunger nearly hundred-fold,
and 1t is necessary to have plenty of pro-
visions in order to withstand the tenn
perature Of sometimes as much as IS de-
grees below zero. Persons who have passed
the winter there state that it is much bet
ter 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 pos
sible. 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 lime Juice should be included
in every bill Of fare. as scurvy is prevented
by making use of them. 1t is necessary to
use large quantities or salt meats, which
produce the disease.
Vegetables Might BE Grown.
It is believed by travellers up the Yukon
river that vegetables which grow rapidly
could be raised profitably in the summer
Potatoes, 1t Is thought, could be
brought to fruition without trouble, and
turnips also. The latter have been raised
by missionaries 400 or 500
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 sum-
mer, and in hot houses lettuce and other
vegetables could be raised easily.
1t is believed by many who do not Under
stand the situation thoroughly that 1t is