The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-09-28
GAME IN THE KLONDIKE.
WILD ANIMALS VERY SCARCE IN THE
NEW GOLD FIELDS.

Abundant-The Appetite Is wonder
fully Increased by the Sharp Air
Conditions That Confront Prospectors.
1t is not necessary for everybody 70
feed on dog meat on the Upper Yukon
river and in the vicinity of the Klon-
dixie gold field in winter, as n member
of a party which was up there said
several of the members did. He re-
fused the dish, but at the same time.
says the Washington Star, he acknowl-
edged that more than once after food
had been thrown to tho dogs, literally
speaking, he had snatched it away
from them before they could eat it.
Fish which small worms had appro-
printed to themselves he did not hest
tate to eat, he said, and was glad to
get it.
That 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 supply, until in the
klondike region aad therenbouts il
ceases almost entirely. There is prac-
tcally no large game, with the excep-
ton of one or two moose and reindeer
which have become separated from the
rest of the herd and wandered out
there. So that prospectors who intend
visiting the field should not RELY in the
least on the resources of the country
to feed them. There may be n few
rabbits, ducks and geese in the spring
which disappear very quickly. These
are not sufficient to supply even the
wants OF the few natives who wander
nomadically about the region.
Lower down the Yukon, at certain
seasons of the year, there is abundance
of game, probably from 400 to 500
miles from the Klondyke River. The
moose is about the largest of the NAM
mails, while the reindeer is fairly plen
titul. As the population has increased
the game has correspondingly de-
creased, 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
think of laying by supply. There are
beavers on the streams and yarious
kinds of deer, bear and caribou. Tn
the winter months these go south and
disappear almost entirely. The polar
bear is found several degrees farther
north, never appearing in that vicin
ity
In the mountain streams which feed
the Yukon River, up towards its head.
near the hathul Mountain, there
are mountain trout OF good size and
flavor. Many of these streams drv M
IN the winter, as they are fed by glac-
lers, which, of course, in cold weather
are frozen entirely. The salmon is
found in the Yukon, but only lower
down, toward st. Michael's. Occa-
sionally 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 fish which is found
near the Klondyke River, and is said
to be excellent eating. 1T 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 into the ice and the
hsh 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. .ucb
as ducks, geese aud swan, put in an ap
pearance, but they do not tarry long.
and wend their way after stay OF only
few days. They are very plentiful
when they do appear, aud the natives
kill them by hundreds. The trouble is.
however, that things of the kind dc, 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 Klondike flows into it, and n gen
tlema1 who spent two or three winters
there several years ago stated to the
reporter that he had seen herd of at
least 5000 cross the river on the ice in
one day. He also saw moose and carl
bon in herds of large number, but
such an occurrence is An unusual
rather than common one.
Klondike would-be prospectors
should bear in mind the fact that in
that region, whore game is scarce. the
appetite 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 hundred fold.
and 1T is necessary to have plenty of
provisions in order to withstand the
temperature OF sometimes as much ns
sixty-eight degrees below zero. Per
sons who have passed the winter there
state that it is much better not to
touch alcoholic liquors, "a the after
effects from indulgence in them are
much worse than any benefit which
may be derived from temporary stimu-
la.ion
Tea is considered one of the best
things which can be taken. and it is
drunk in large quantities, strong and
as hot as possible. This seems to
keep the heat in aud tho cold out bet
ter 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 pre-
vented by making use Of them. It is
necessary TO use large quantities of
salt meats, which produce the disease.
II is believed by travellers up the
Yukon River that vegetables which
grow rapidly could be raised proftably
in the summer months. Potatoes. it
Is thought, could be brought TO fruition
without trouble, and turnips also The