The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-06
ALASKA AS A HUNTING GROUND.
Game of All Sorts, Both Large and
Small, in Great Abundance.
From Field and Stream.

From Field and Stream
1t is remarkable fact that game is ac-
tualiy on the increase In Alaska to-day.
1t is well known that the moose was
formerly unknown within its limits, but
driven from the forests of Lower Canada
and the United States ny the constant
onslaughts of the huntsman, it has grad
ually Travelled westward and northward
until it has finally reached the Alaskan
peninsula, and, breeding for years prac-
tIcally free from mOlestaton, II has be-
come abundant there to-day. When the
agents of the Hudson Bay Company first
arrived In its vicinity they FOUND the In
dams dwelling about the Hyland river
unwilling 10 ascend il or to have anything
to do with the country about its head
waters, superstitiously maintaining that
long before as a party of braves of their
tribe were ascending the river in canoe
suddenly a terrible, black something arose
seemingly out Of the very water itself
overturned the canoe ana drowned most
of the hunters in the whirlpoos Might
not the legend have been an account ex-
aggerated by the simple and overawed
Indians, of their first meeting with
moose, especially as during the summer
months the animal often frequents the
vicinity OF streams, standing shoulder deep
i'm the water to avoid insects2 An un-
tutored Indian, unfamiliar with the moose
and its character meeting it for the first
time, might well be impressed with super
stitious awe and dread, such d powerful
and formidable front does 1t often pre-
sent.
A second factor which has resulted in
the increase Of game animals in Alaska
Is the manner in which the Indians. and
while hunters as well following their ex-
ample, capture such meat as they may
stand in need of. The country being as a
general thing rough and difficult to trav-
erse the huntsman paddles along some
waterway in his canoe, scanning the banks
as he goes until he comes upon his quar-
ry feeding or lettering at the waters edge
The result is that the vast interior of the
country at distance from the stream and
navigable waterways is seldom visited by
the huntsman, and as a consequence its
wild animal life augments from year to
year. So Alaska has proved the natural
corral OF the continent into which all its
game animals have gradually been driven
and penned in amid surroundings which
are far from being unfavorable In fact
here they have found a refuge admirably
adapted 20 their needs, and have been
steadily thriving and increasing. until
Alaska to-day has become more Of the best
natural game preserves in the world Some
moose and caribou roam It's swamps in
search of tender shoots, noun tain goats
nibble the grasses and moses of the high
er mountain slopes, and black and brown
bears prowl about in the darkest recesses
of the forest and along the streams In
search of fish, The spruce grouse Is abun-
dant in the dense evergreen woods and ex-
ceed.ngly tame, the blue grouse Is also 10
be found In the upper timber belts Of the
mountain Sides and ptarmigan on the sun
ny cliffs and barrens. Rabbits are plentiful
everywhere, and, as matter Of course,
their deadly foe the lynx. Is usually not
far away. Amid such a variety as this the
sportsman cannot fail TO find plenty of
employment for his gun IL only he pos
sesses the necessary knowledge and skill
at woodcraft TO enable him to properly
search out and approach his game.
The climate Of Alaska is not nearly 50
harsh and severe as many imagine II to
be. In the vicinity OF the coast, warm
winds from the Pacific ocean temper the
atmosphere, and even far inland, although
the thermometer sometimes fails as low as