The morning news., 1897-08-16
GAME IN THE YUKON REGION.
But Little of It Where the Miners Are
Though Plentiful 800 MILES Away.

Though Plentiful 800 miles Away.
From the Washington Evening Star.
1t is not necessary for everybody to feed
on dog meat on the upper Yukon river
and in the vicinity of the IIlondike 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 snatch
ed it away from them before they could
eat it, Fish which small worms had APP
propriated to themselves he did not hesi-
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 further up the Yukon
one travels the scarcer becomes the food
supply, until in the Klondike region and
thereabouts 1t ceases almost entirely.
There is practically no large game. with
the exception 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 a few rabbits,
ducks, and geese in the spring. which dis
appear very quickly. These are not suf-
ficient to supply even the wants of the few
natives who wander nomadically about
the region.
Lower down the Yukon, az certain sea-
sons of the year, there is abundance OF
game, probably from AGO to 500 miles from
the Klcndike river. The moose is about
the largest Of the mammals while the
reindeer is fairly plentiful. Jas the popula-
ba fupraa cd ba 1rf,a
pondingly decreased, and in the winter
the Indians there have a hard time Sc
curing food, as they are very improvident.
During the season when 1t is abundant
they never think OF laying by a supply.
There are beavers on the streams and va
Tious 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 mqentain streams which feed the
Yukon river, up toward its 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 Occasion
ally they are caught high up on the Yu-
kon but the water is rather cold for them.
There is a sort of fish known as the white
fish which is found near the Klondike
river. and is said TO be excellent eating. Ii
ranges in size about the same as our black
bass, and is one Of the chief mainstays Of
the Indians In winter, il ii 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 nat
ural habitat.
Early in the spring water fowl. such
as ducks, geese and swan, put in an ap-
pearance, but they do moi tarry long. and
wend their way after stay OF only
few days. They are very plentiful when
they do appear. ana 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 i'm very
large numbers on the Yukon, some two or
three hundred miles from where the Klon-
dixie flows into It, and a gentleman 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 caribou. in nerds Of large
number, but such an occurrence is an un-
usual rather than a common one.
Klondike would-be prospectors should
bear in mind the fact that in that region,
where game IS scarce, the appetite is
something wonderful. All kinds of food
Is eaten with RELISH particularly anything
that has fat or grease about IL. The sharp
air increases hunger nearly a hundred
fold and it Is necessary to have plenty
OF provisions IN order TO Withstand the
temperature Of sometimes as much as 6S
degrees below zero. Persons who have
passed the winter there state that 1t is
much better not to touch alcoholic liq-
uors, as the after effects from indulgence
In them are much worse than any bene-
I'll which may be derived from temporary
stimulation.
Tea is considered one Of the best things
which can be taken, ana IL Is drunk iu
large quantities. strong and as hot as
possible This seems 10 keep the heat in
and the cold out better than anything
else. All kinds Of canned goods are ex-
cel,ent. and dried fruits or lime juice
should be included in every bin of fare.
as scuryy Is prevented by making use OF
them. II Us necessary 20 use large guam
titles Of salt meats, which produce the
disease.
II Is believed by travellers up the Yukon
river that vegetables which grow rapidly
could be raised prohtably I'm the summer
months Potatoes % Is thought could be
brought 90 fruitlon without trouble, and
turnips also. The latter have been raised
successfully by missionaries 400 or 600
miles or so from the source OF the river
The sun there Is said 90 have very strong
power in the three or four months Of sum
mor, and In hothOuses lettuce aud other
vegetables could be raised easily.
N d. believed by many who DO not un-
dorstand the situation thoroughly that Il
ls not allowed 90 any one 10 take provis-
ions into that country, the syndicate furn-
lahing them for 800 This is % mistake
TAe syndicate merely does not allow any
one 20 transport them up the yukon river
rcseryinR that right 90 Itself. n thoy can
be taken 10 Juneau or either the Chilkat
or ChllkoOt pass they can be transported
over the mountains on mulcback, and this
IL much the closer way. The cost ~ trans
flFo.