The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
KILLING ARCTIC GAME.
Prof. Nnthorst Says Tourists Are Annihilar
ing the Reindoer in SpitLbergon.

The western shores OF Spitzbergen have be-
como very easy OF access because tourist
steamers make several visits to this Arctic
land every summer. Nearly half way up tho
coast. at Advent Bay In Ice Ford. very COM
Portable little hotel was opened two or three
years ago and tourists are now able to enjoy
nearly all pleasurablc aspects OF tho Arctic
regions witsost foregoing the comforts OF CIV
iizaton. This thoroughly Arctic land is near
enough to Europe to be easily reached. and it
Is added permanently to the list OF tourist
attractions. for these realms Of the glacier and
Ice mountain have glories all their own. whose
peculiar charm and grandeur inspire the en-
thusiasm Of the most inveterate globo trotter.
One might imagine that the fiat eSnanse OF the
pack or drift ice would be simply monotonous.
but tourists to Spitzbergen may always see it
under circumstances that give new zest to
pleasure travelling. 1t alone were worth the
trip on splendid Arctic morning. to see the
sky flooded with the most brilliant sunshine
and the steamer plouRhing through big and
little sheets OF Ice. dazzling white on the SUR
face. but blue or green on the edges 1t Is
unique and beautiful sight and one OF the dis
tinctve attractions Of this northern journey.
There Is. however one phase OF eutertain-
ment In Spt2bergen that is not commendable.
Some of the tourists are accused OF Slaughter
ing the big game, and particularly the rein
deer. in most unsportsmanlike and barbarous
manner. Unless their ardor is restrained they
will certainly exterminate the reindeer in that
region without serving any purpose. except the
mere love OF killing. Prof A. q. Nathorst. the
well-known Swedish explorer, brings this in
dictment against them. and all real sportsmen
and the public generally will share the indig-
nation he expresses at this ruthless butchery.
In the professors account Of his fruitful ex-
plorations In the summer Of 1903 no says that
while at Recherche Bay on the west coast OF
Spitzbergen his party had an opportunity to
hunt reindeer. On NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. when he
had hunted in these high Arctic regions he
had always found the animals exceedingly
shy. because they had been hunted BEFORE
Last year. however. he reached the land
soon after the Ice had gone out that the deer
had not boon disturbed by hunters. He sup
posed they would be as shy as usual. and so his
party approached them with the utmost eau
ton. crawling upon their hands and knees.
dragging themselves forward on their stom-
achs and keeping carefully out OF the wind.
Much to his surprise he found that he and
his men had only to show themselves openly
to attract the animals. which. moved ny curi-
osity. would come within range OF their own
accord. There was pleasure whatever In
hunting them. At one time three reindeer APP
preached within ton pages of the spot where
the professor stood. while two Dig bucks. with
fine antlers. stood gazing only a little further
Off He had his rifle at his shoulder. but Of
course refraned from shooting. His men
agreed with him that 1t was mere hutchery to
kill animals that would come forward to be
shot, and 30 they killed only few that they
wanted for food.
Later in the year the expedition returned to
Advent Bay and found that tho tourists had
been making Wholesale war on the reindeer.
Parties had been made up to go on hunts last
ing for several days. and every animal that
came within range was shot down. Not the
| slightest use was made OF the carcasses but
| they we're left to lie and rot where they fell.
| No sportsmanlike qualities we're exercised or
| required In this sort OF work. The Swedish
| explorer characteriZes these performances as
disgraceful and barbarous and says they cannot
| often be repeated without annihilatng the
| reindeer on West Spitzbergen.
| There are very few II any Arctic regions
| whore largo game Is 30 plentiful that there Is
| not danger Of its entire disappearanoe II it ia
| assduously oveYhunted. Mr., +. q. jackson.
who is q keen sportsman and has lived three
years in Franz Josef Land. would not permit
any waste OF game by his party. and never
allowed life TO be taken for the sake OF sport
| alone. He said he thought that even In @
country so rich in animal life as Franz Josef
| Land. It would take only few pears to kill all
|
plentiful. and yet he was certain 1t would not
| pay steam whalers to hunt them Gin those
| waters for more than two years IN suooeasion.
| In the past few years q good many walrus have
| boon killed for dog feed by exploring vessels
that have visited the Smith Sound region. and
| reindeer and other game have been killed
there in unusual quantities by white mon.
| One OF the best known Arctic authors
| ties has expressed the opinion that tho
! - IN-NA.
| thereby being endangered. These few hum
dreds OF people are larRel ytsoiated from tho
rest OF the world and are wholly dependent
| upon the slender resources OF tho surrounding
| land and waters. 1t would be only. humane to
conserve their small food supply. Any white
| men who cannot get along In the Smith Sound
| region without endangering the lives Of the
| natives had better keep away An expedition
has sailed this month for Smith Sound. and
j among those on board Is party from Boston.
| whose only ostensble purpose In visiting the
home OF the Arctic HiRhlandsrs. according to
the published reports. is to hunt walrus. bear
and reindeer" Possiblrthe report that they
are merely going to hunt for amusement Ia in
accurate and at any rate when they see clearly
the conditions OF Eskimo life there they will
probably abstain from reckless hunting. 1t IL
| certain that Nr. Peary. In whose behalf this ex-
| petition 10 going north. would not approve OF
any enterprise that would add to the hard.
ships OF life among the natives.
An army Of hunters. however, would have q
hard task TO deplete to a serious extent the
bird life OF the Arctic regions. All explorers
tell OF their prodigious numbers. and Prof.
Nathorst adds his contribution. He tells Of Q
Cliff rising pcrpendicuarly from tho sea on the
south coast OF Bear Island. where he believes
there were. last summer. actually millions OF
auks. klttwakes and fumars. Every ledge
and every protection was thick with birds en-
gagged IN tho duties OF incubation. WheneEer
n shot was fired mvriads Of them rose In the
air and lowered about tho cliffs like snow
squal and yet there still seemed to besQuit0
as many left behind on the rocks.