New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-25
WILD DUCKS IN ALASKA.
NO EXCUSE FOR MINERS STARVING IN THE LAND
OF GOLD

OF GOLD.
From The St LOUIS Republic
According TO Dr. W V KinGs5ury. Alaska IS a
vertable kIondIke for the sportsman. Ducks and
lakes are black with them in he spring and fall
Or. Kingsbury spent several years in Alaska with
fixed the boundary OF the territory. During that
time he experienced some remarkable encounters
Yes sir Alaska is the greatest eat, country for
ducks and geese n the world sHid Dr, finRsoury.
vded with a good lo-5ore shotgun Enough ducks
be killed in the spring 10 last until the fall
In the fall another supply can be laid in TO tide
why. have seen ducks so thick overhead that
the sun would be obscured Tor thirty minutes Dur
ing the second year were in Alaska the ducks
made so much noise along the Yukon tina; could
near our camp on the bank or the river ana con-
grown very scarce, and we were in actual need or
There were ten of us with good shotguns and
pen,y OF ammun!iion VEL the way we Sau bad
duck for breakfast. goose for dinner and duck for
supper The next day We ate goose for breakfast
duck for dinner and goose FOR supper Talk about
in 1t with the Feat Of eating duck and goose three
ealing. doit say duck to me have had enough
duck and goose 20 last me lifetime. ! have eaten
duck soup duck salted. duck in every conceivable
duck at all ages. duck TN YOU couldn't rest
able part Of Il that The birds were all fshy.'
How many aid YOU kill?' asked the reporter.
DR.. kinEsbury turned 10 i diary which ne kept
during the trip Presently he looked up. and. In
most mntter-of-fact manner. said
Two thousand hve hundred and forty -nlne DUCKS,
four hundred and eighty-seven geese.
Wait don't rush OF Ike that said Or. Kings
burr IT'S true. Every word Of II is gospel truth
There is l. Edwards who has been there. and will
confirm what say about the numbers ana the IA
clllty with which they are killed" Mr. Edwards
confirmed the story as far as the great quantity
OF game is concerned. but not having been on the
expedition was unable 20 testify further.
''Why, that Is nothing" continued klnSsbury. we
had only hunted short while. II We had gone
into IL in dead earnest could have bagged as
many more But what the use OF wasting am
very sick Of the sailed meat before We were
through with II.
Take the Indians. for instance. They lay IN a big
supply OF duck and goose meat every fall. They gem
orally prefer the geese. because they are larger
and can be preserved better. They hunt geese with
clubs. and manage to XIII hundreds In night
This is the way they 20 about II: The geese gener
ally land On sandbars at night Two Indians will
watch a certain sandbar until II is pretty well
covered with game. Then they pull out from the
bank in their canoes one lands al the head OF the
island and the other At the foot. When each has
had time TO effect landing and lie his boat. the
man al the head OF the Island gives a signal fd
both start In beating the geese with their clubs.
The geese usually sleepy. weary. and when
they are disturbed suddenly lose their heads. Be-
fore they can clear the island hundreds have fallen
victims 10 the clubs At dawn the island appears
10 be- full OF dead geese. on one occasion five
hundred geese were bagged BY two Indians an
island In one night.
There Il Hale use for rifle In Alaska. but a
good gun viii como In very handy"
A ~