The leader., 1897-09-15
THE BEARS OF ALASKA.
There Are Several Varieties of Them
Mt the Service of SnOrtsmen.

Mt the service OF SpOrtsmeh.
In Alaska there are several varieties
of the bear, including the polar or white
bear, the brown bear and the grizzly
bear (Ursus horribilis). The Sun has
learned from n member of the United
States coast ard geodetic survey, who
has spent much time in Alaska, that, in
the colder months of the year, droves
of polar bears may be seen as far south
as ST. Matthews island in Behring sea,
but that, when the ice begins to break
up there, they strike out for the fur
thest north, as far as the Arctic ocean.
Their habits are of a maritime charac-
ter; they are great swimmers; they do
not mind swim of from $50 to 200
miles if they can find an occasional ice
berg to rest on. They are ferocious,
and have no fear of an enemy, so tina
the sportsman who is fond of adven-
lures with a spice of danger in them can
find genuine happiness in hunting the
polar bear, which, however, it must be
said, has habit of killing and devour-
ing such persons as may seek sport at
its expense"
The brown bear of Alaska is huge
and shaggy bear, varying in length
from six to twelve feet and weighing
from 500 to 1900 pounds, and is dam
gerous adversary, the terror of the ma
tives. 1t is an expert fisher, with
good appetite for salmon in its season;
and when the years run of that dainty
fish is over it takes to the hills, where
small game awaits consumption. The
brown bear has been particularly use
full as a roadmaker in Alaska, treading
the river banks and plains in purpose
full manner so that the traveller, by fol-
lowing it's footsteps, will find the easiest
routes to the hills and to the best ford
ing places. Its habitat is believed to
run as far north as the Arctic ocean.
As to its ferocity, the natives do not
possess a monopoly of the stories. Yet
there is an authentic report that some
time ago two men killed seven brown
bears in one day upon the mainland adj
iacent to the island of Unga, and ex-
hibited the skins in proof of their good
faith. This story ought to give encour-
agement to those sportsmen who like
a spice of luck as well as of danger in
their sport.
1t is hard to tell whether the grizzly
bear of Alaska is more ferocious than
the polar bear or the brown bear of that
part of America. But some of the men
who travelled near Mount ST. Elias say
that the grizzly found there is I'M
equaled for ferocity, being fiercer even
than the Rocky mountain variety. The
Indian will never attack it; he takes
to flight at the sight of it. 1t has no
fear of bullets. 1t is happy when it
lays eyes on human being; humanity
is but provender for it. The natives be-
lieve that it possesses supernatural pow
ers and can hypnotize the man who goes
out to kill it. Yet it is related that
upon one occasion party of two Amer
leans in the Mount ST. Elias region saw
grizzly at distance catching fish
upon the banks of a stream and deter
mined to try conclusions with it. They
got reinforcemcnts by which their
party was raised to the number of six.
The six men raised their rifles and
poured a volley into the body of the
enemy, which thereupon rushed toward
the firing party. AS the animal ap-
preached they peppered it with their
bullets until its life was extinct. The
skinning of it was the next thing; and
it was one of the members of the party
of six who said: "When the skin was
stretched out ii looked to me bigger
than the biggest bullock hide had ever
scent"
That was an adventure for sportsmen
who have no fear of danger. but rather
like IL. In truth. there is no part of the
American continent where an adven-
turous hunter can get livelier expert
ences in bear hunting than those which
are to be found in Alaska. He can take
his choice between the polar bear, the
brown bear and the biggest grizzly on
earth. He can hover about Mount st.
Elias. take observations upon the main
land near Unga, or go stalking among
the ice fields which border the arctic
ocean. some distance this side of the
north pole. There are yet lots Of
chances for sport in this country be.
tween FlorIea StFsit and Point BaTrow,
~, Y, SEA-