The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-07-12
STILL LIFE MENAGERiES-
Market in Alaska Where Frozen AMI
mails Stand All Winter.

The worlds most unique game mar
ket is in Fairbanks, Alaska, says the
San Francisco Chronicle If you will
take the trouble to examine the latest
map of the vast and valuable north
west territory purchased by Uncle Sam
from Russia in 1867 you will find
that Fairbanks is on the Chelna river,
in the rich Tonama district, OF which
it is the thriving metropolis. 1t lies
close to the Arctic circle, and in COM
mon with other communities in the
valley of the Yukon, has an average
mean temperature Of about 10 degrees
below zero during the months of No
vember, December, January, February
and March At intervals during the
long winter season the thermometer
goes as low as Is degree below the
zero mark, but such an excessive tenn
perature is not absolutely necessary
Fairbanks game market, although it is
true, the intensity of the Arctic cold
is the chief factor in establishing and
maintaining the towns claim to dis
tinction in the item Of it's game mar
ket. 1t is almost superfluous to sug-
gest that the market, operating as 1t
does only during the months named,
is saved the expense Of artificial 70
frigerating apparatus.
Now here is where the novelty be-
gins. Instead of skinning the game
and curing UP the carcass as in the
ordinary way, everyday market, the
deer, or the moose, or the bear, as
the case may be, is simply stood up
on the floor of the market, which Is
located in one Of the principal build
ings of the town, and allowed to
freeze solidly, or probably it has froz-
en- solidly within 20 minutes after it
was killed. The low temperature that
continually prevails permits the keep
ing of game in this shape for months
at a stretch, as once the carcass 10
frozen there Is no decay until the
freezing weather is over.
One may enter the market and order
bear steak cut from Bruin who has
occupied a particular corner in the
establishment, looking for all the
world as if he were alive, for several
months; or haunch Of venison from
the deer that has been in another
corner for an equally long period:
or, perchance, choice cut OF the
lordly moose or the kingly caribou
that have been making lifelike poses
in other sections Of the market. Or.
if it be a mountain sheep or a goat
that the fancy Graves, the same oppor-
tunity is offered for selection. The
animals appear just as they did In
life, and the person who visits the
place for the first time is apt to i'm
agine himself in a menagerie rather
than a market.
The flavor and quality OF the game
under such conditions is said to be
unexcelled. The freezing process and
the length of time that is allowed
to elapse between the killing and the
eating of the animal seem to impart
to the flesh a tenderness and ripe
ness that is characteristic.
The market attracts attention to its
location by placing on the sidewalk
before it's door, just as the cigar man
puts out his wooden Indian, bear or
moose, a stag or some other animal
from it's stock in trade. Last season
the same bear was used for the pur-
pose every day for five months, and
was then cut up into steaks that were
pronounced to be the most delicious
that had ever been eaten in locality
that is famous for its Well-faYOred