The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-05-24
Frozen NIenagerIes.

The worlds most unique game
market is in Fairbanks, Alaska. If
you will take the trouble to examine
the latest map of the vast and valu-
able northwest territory purchased by
Uncle Sam from Russia in 1867, YOU
will find that Fairbanks is on the
Chelena river, in the rich Tanana
district, of which it is the thriving
metropolis. It lies close to the Arctic
Circle, and in common with other
communities in the valley of tue
Yukon has an average mean temper
allure of about 10 degrees below zero
during the months of November, De-
cember, January, February and
March. At intervals during the long
winter season the thermometer goes
as low as IS degrees below the zero
mark, but such an excessive temper
allure is not absolutely necessary for
the successful operation of the Fair
banks 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 superfuous to sug-
gest that the market, operating as it
does only during the months named,
is spared the expense of artificial re-
frigerating apparatus.
Now here is where the novelty be-
gins. Instead of skinning the game
and curing up the carcass as in the
ordinary, everyday market, the deer,
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 buildings of
the town, and allowed to freeze
solidly, or, probably, it has frozen
solidly within thirty minutes after it
was killed. The low temperature that
continually prevails permits the keep
ing of the game in this shape for
months at a stretch, as once the car
cass is frozen there is no decay until
the freezing weather is over.
One may enter the market and Or
der bear steak cut from bruin who
has occupied particular corner in
the establishment, looking for all the
world as if he were alive, for severa
months; or haunch Of venison from
the deer that has been in another cor
ner for an equally long period or
perchance a choice cut out of the
lordly moose or the kingly caribou
that have been making life-like poses
in other sections of the market. Or,
if it be a mountain sheep or a goat
that the fancy Graves, the same op-
portunity 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
imagine himself in menagerie
rather than 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 eating
of the animal seem to impart to the
flesh a tenderness and a ripeness that
is characteristic.
The market attracts attention to it's
location by placing on the sidewalk
before it's door, just as the cigar man
puts out his wooden Indian, a bear,
a 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 it's well-favored
bear steaks.-San Francisco Chroni-
Gle. q