The Alaska prospector., 1903-07-02
Alaska Game Law.

needs and requirements, as himself.
 It Is too early in the day to make a game park of Alaska, which one would naturally suppose (after reading the present game law) was the intention.
 l do not wish it to be under stood that 1 am avcrse to d law protecting the game food animals and birds of Alaska and the wan ton destruction of the game; for any one advancing such an idea, would be an enemy to his own in- terest. In other words, killing the goose that lay the golden egg" and no one in his right mind would do that.
 It is not so much the citizens of Alaska tllat wantonly kill the game animals. It is the people that come in during the summer to spend their vacation and have a good time hunting and fishing. They are the ones that abuse the privilege, and Alaska, to my mind, would be far better off without them.
 In the enacting clause of the act. the following language is used in part: 'The wanton destruction of wild game animals or wild birds is hereby prohibited" Now as un- derstand this phraseology, wan ton destruction is killing game you have no use for, shooting it down merely to see it die, or for the hide or horns, leaving the carcas to rot or be devoured by other animals or birds. Such a destruction is crimi- nal and should be punished to the full extent of the law. But in this portion of Alaska no such criminal destruction has ever been indulged in to my knowledge.
 It may not generally be known to our lawmakers, but it is fact nevertheless that miners and pros pectors, as q rule, are not hunters. They would rather pay for their meat than take time to hunt it, as that is not in their line of business. They are hunting mineral, not game, and the two are seldom found in the same locality. Then it is necessary for some one to turn hunter for the camp, who generally has to go considerable distance to get game. Now under the law, a man is allowed to kill in one year, eight deer, four cariboo, sheep or goats. How far I ask you will that go to support mining town, and what inducement for the hunter?
 The law prohibits the killing of waterfowl after December 18th and as they don't get around here until about the first of November, we have only six weeks in which we can legally kill and eat ducks and geese.
 Why they make December 25th the commencement of the closed season l am unable to understand. It does not fit this locality at all. Ducks and geese in this latitude do not pair until about the 1st of April, and why they should be allowed to sit around from Decem- Der 15 until April, while they are in the best condition for food, tempting the appetites of us Alas kans, is beyond the comprehension of the wisest. We are dependent here during the winter on ducks and geese for fresh meat. They are killed by natives and find a ready sale. The demand is always greater than the supply. This past winter we have been deprived of this food supply, by the resident Deputy Marshal and Commissioner having received orders to enforce this law.
 The protection of the large brown bear IS a mystery to me. Why such a brute should be protected by law surpasseth my understanding. l see that the Secretary of Agri- culture is inviting settlers to Alas ka with the view of taking up agri- cultural n,rc,,.fo c<ool> ro ;c;oc o<o