The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-31
As SEEN BY A SPORTSMAN.

Sr.at sSforesmans journal Forest and
Stream, a well known hunter OF Dig game
and an authority on American aia ~ ~.
whom he has studied and written OF Tor
years. was a member OF the Hartman
expedition and tells interestingly the
story Of the Elder voyage from his own
standpoint.
This was my hrs, regular vacation
trip In many years, said he yesterday.
Il went with Mr.. Harrfmans party prin-
cipaiiy to sec Alaska. OF course, pot Win
special interest In the great glaciers ana
the seal islands and their inhabitants !
saw many strange sights ana ehJoseo
every minute Of the time while away
The most interesting incident OF the voy-
age to nay mind was cur call at Bogosiof
island, "a great breeding place Tor sea
birds in northern waters. Iney ne, nest
While far out at sea we watched them
through marine glasses 1t WAS some
thing never 10 be forgotten The ems
were fairly hidden from view by CLOUDS
OF birds flying about them. II reminded
me strongly OF a swarm of bees before
their hive.
lowered the startled birds flew from their
homes by countless hundreds. almost OBJ
securing the sun, and thousands OF eggs,
disturbed by the precipitous departure
OF the nesting birds rolled from the
lodges and dropped into the sea like nall
stones.
AT Ployer bay. off on the Siberian
coast. was greatly interested in the
Eskimo we found dwelling there In their
most primitive state in huts built of
whales bones and 500; ana covered 20 WIN Siva
iiization We found among them were guns
and steel knives.
''The only trout fishing done during the
voyage was at Chichagoff bay-'Chicago
bay. we called it-where a party went
ashore to geologic and caught nun
dreu fine trout in a couple or hours. Ihey
were compelled to fish the stream with
salmon eggs. however. as the salmon
were running and the trout would not
notice ny.
IAN along the coast we found salmon
plenty both In the streams ana in the salt
water, where We could see them leaping
constantly. Whales We sighted frequently
playing about the vessel.
I'VE did Little hunting. We found that
the game was far back from the coast ana
the steamer did r.. stop long enough at
any place, to allow us 10 go far inland:
were a veritable plague and had 10 be
guarded against whenever We ven.ured
ashore by means Of head nets. dope" and
smudges. PtaTmgan were plentiful. but
owing 20 the fact that It was their breed
Ing season We aid not Kill them. on ka-
diak Island they ara esnecally Plentiful
for one hunter tn kill several hundred In
a single day during the season.
"cne interesting fact in regard 10 the
fishing industry learned wniIe In Alaska.
and that is that the salmon I'm the streams
OF that territory are being rapidly exter-
minated, ! was assured OF this by mum
erous cannery men. Some steps for the
protection OF these FISH Should be taken
before * u too late"
SPRUCE FORESTS \ MYTH.
h. f. Fernow. director of the New York
State College OF Forestry. connected with
Cornell university, al Ithica, y. Y. and
one Of the ilrst institutions OF the kind
ever established In the United states, is
also a member OF Hartman party. lie
was for mere than twelve years chief OF
the forestry division OF the department o!
sk.fr nFz4 ia
thoroughly familiar with the forests OF the
United States and Canada
During nis trip along the coast with the
Hartman party ne made extensive re-
search .nto the tlIrber resources OF Alas
IA with results not ;iattering to that ter
ritory. lie says thai the timber re
sources Of the territory have been greatly
overestina'ed, and that "a reality the for
ests Of Alaska viii have little commercial
value for years to come.
The spruce forests OF Alaska, OF which
We have all heard 50 much, says Mr..
Fernow. ARE myth TO considerable
extent. As ii matter of fact. the spruce
forests are forests OF hcmioek From
sixty 10 eighty per cent. OF the trees IN
these spruce forests are hemiock
The red ar, or Douglas ar. 'he most
valuable timber tree ~ the Northwest,
does not grow Ia Mask at all. ! find.
l5It ceascs 10 be found north of Love bay
la British Columbia The red cedar a
valuable timber. ceases 10 be found north
of Prince William sound and ths Alaska
Fer this reason the spruce - really
the only source Of timber abundant on
the Alaska coast. and owing To the fact
tna. the bT Of Puget sound and British
Columbia IS So much more desirable am
afraid Il wib be many years before the
i~rFsts - Alaska NiI he called upon 70
supply the markets - the world. I was
surprised Is find That an the WHITE pass
railroad all 81 the ties and bridge tim
bers were imported from Puget sound IN
spite = ne fac; thaf the track - built
through forests IF spruce
The spruce y n good enough ttmbeT
tFer but it hy 10 means compares with
TIE ar yCu have here. aud the spruce tim
Der e Page; sound IS much more yaia-
: pl. Than the spruce II Alaska. being
larger ard more free from knots. The
I Alaska aewl1cS - n good timber 8 Sc
but &. too. IS esc&llet ~ me bsul0ck OF
the Puget sound forests.
In their extent also tie forests of
A;sska ara a Gis8 ppointr1ent - me. The
tiraher he}', aS ( found IL. does not OK
se03 back from the coast more shan AZ
teen og tWerty nsis4s and north II ka-
3ia6 Island al timber growth ceases The
islands are weIl wooded however cape
Cta{}s "a the A}axautr3Au archipelago.
Ira hen3uCk IN mas eptUl5a. IL de-
serving ~ more consideration BY lumber
men. Il - tsue timber. especially for
! finishing ana tHtsTtor IL h. "a SAL
fast tss3 heTs oH Puget sound after 3ka
fT . cat o4s the E@lu30cks that are pays
ed ay by the lumbermeH rarely earxi e.
They are either destroyed hy forest frss
- = ~ g4ea 80 -