New-York tribune., 1902-10-26
LAMB HUNT IN ALASK 4
YOUNG OF MOUNTAIN SHEEP SOUGHT
FOR THE BRONX BIOLOGICAL PARK.


hunt for new born lambs would not seem
to he exciting or especially dangerous. Indeed,
on,. would not be likely to put it in the same
class with a lion or elephant hunt. An eXpedl-
tiou after lambs might be all right and proper
for some artist who was trying to hold the
mirror up TO nature" and then label his picture
innocence; but for a sportsman this kind OF
hunting looks too much like a nursery amuse-
ment.
1T all depends on the lambs. however. Accord
ing 10 ]. Alden LOring, of the New-lork 400
logical Society a hunt for lambs may be more
exciting than lion hunt, and even more peril
Gus Mr.. Loring recently returned from Alas
Ia, where he sought to capture lambs IN the
Businesses of its mountains. After many periis
and thrilling adventures his party succeeded in
catching three. only to see the little creatures
die from fright An ordinary hunt after lions
or elephants for the purpose of meeting these
I,asts and shooting them down for their hides
or their ivory, he says would have been far
easier task and scarcely more dangerous
Mr.. Loring went to Alaska in the belief that
the mountain sheep of that country. living at
comparatively low altitude and in humid eli
mate, might endure the climate Of New-fork
better than similar specimens from the Rocky
Mountains. II the owls DALI that he hoped
10 capture. Such is the scientific name for the
hardy mountain sheep which inhabit the steep
orags which border the Gulf Of Alaska. covered
for the greater part of the year with snow, and
s. bleak and stony that the ;tranger wonders
that even birds can live in such wilderness.
Catching these sheep when mature is i'm
possible for an ordinary human being as to
catch eagles 10y the legs. At the least alarm
these animals which seem to be all bone and
muscle leap from crag to crag and from preci-
Ii,e To precipice, regardless Of the dizzy ahysms
yaWning below. Pursuit would mean plunge
1" death for the fool who attempted IL. Ac
o"rdingy. Mr.. Lorng planned TO land on the
coast late in the spring. when the young are
torn and, by careful watching and by ap-
preaching the sheep as not 10 alarm the
uother until the last moment, he hoped thus
t. Doe able 10 capture a born lamb. as yet
too feeble 10 effect escape.
The grease eating Indians of the country
laughed in their cultural way when Mr.. Loring
told Them that he had come from some mysteri-
Gus region, which he called New-York city,
simply 10 catch a few bleatng lambs. They
could not understand the worldwide enterprise
and The high scientific zeal which prompted the
NeW-lork Geological Society to send man TO
Alaska for such gentle crea lures az these. But
hon the stranger offered them money TO catch
them for him. they stopped gruntiug.
II Was in April that the zooloeist landed at
Tyouek the western shore Of Cooks Inlet
and almost month had passed before he had
cached the hunting ground, on the shore If the
kuik River, which flows into the inlet. The feat
az ring the boat through the huge packs of
..' ~e"med several times to be certain Of a dis
a-tr"u~ end. A storm came up treacherousIy
winch almost sWamPed the little vessel but in
spite "f The dangers from wind Ice and tide
Oh. party finally found a camping ground. here
'h 'a' mountains TO the east appeared q spot
a|t" 'ree from snow. which looked as if il
.aIrHt "e favored by sheep as a feedn, ground
Nr L.ring had been fortunate enough 20 se-
.ur" 'ha services Of II. II. Hicks. a guide who
tn". 'tery foot Of this region. and Who. as Air
i-"i.'r said afterward, was as good as Two
Ordinary white men, and worth Il half dozen
Indians The two Indians in the party were
named Billy and Jim" and il was almost
impossible to control their innate desire To- kill
"' eHnShot eCholng through these mountains
""aId frighten away whole herd of sheep and
1't these savaees were constantly aching to
'fc't 'Fery animal they saw