The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-04
UNIQUE FROZEN MENAGERIES
Frigid Alaska, Where Animals Stand
All Winter in Market

The worlds most unique game market
is I'm Fairbanks, Alaska. If you VIII take
the trouble TO examine the latest map OF
the vast and valuable northwest terri
tory purchased by Uncle Sam from Russia
in 1867 you will find that Fairbanks is on
the Chclcna river in the rich Tonama
district. OF which II is the thriving met
ropolis. IL lies close TO the Arctic circle,
and In common with other communities
In the Valley of the Yukon. has an aver
age mean temperature OF about 10 degrees
below zero during the months OF Novem-
bcr, December, January. February and
March. At intervals during the long WIN
ter season the thermometer. goes as low
as - degrees below the zero mark, but
such an excessive temperature Is not alb
operation of the Fairbanks game market.
although. IL is true the intensity OF the
Arctic cold is the chief factor in estab-
fishing and maintaining the town Z claim
10 distinction in the Item of its game
market II Is almost supeTfluous TO sug-
gcSt that the market. operating rs II
does only during the months named is
saved the expense OF artificial refrlger-
ating apparatus.
Now here is where the novelty begins
Instead OF skinning the game and curing
up the carcass as I'm 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 mar
ket. which Is located In one of the prin-
Clpol DulldlnES OF IN" town, ana allowed
to freeze soidly, or probably 1t has
frozen golidly within twenty minutes after
being killed Tho low temperature that
continually prevails permits the keeping
OF the game In this shape for months nj n
stretch. as once the carcass Is frozen
there is no decay until the freezing
weather is over
one may enter the market and order q
bear steak cut from Bruln who has oc-
cuped n particular corner In the cstab-
llShmCnt looking for all the world as N
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. n choice cut
OF tho lordly moose or the kingly carl
bou that have been making lifclike poses
I'm other sections OF the market. or, II
lt be n mountain sheep or q goat that
is offered for selection. Tho animals APP
pear just as they did I'm life, and the per-
son who visits tho place for the first time
Is apt to imagine himself In a mcnaeerlc
rather than market.
The flavor and quality of the game
under such conditions is said TO he uneX-
ccllcd. The freezing process and the
length Of time that is allowed TO elapse
between the killing and eating of the ami
nal seem to impart TO the flesh ten
dcrness and rlpeness that is character
iStic
The market attracts attention to It's To-
cation by placing on the sidewalk before
Its door. just a. the cigar man puts out
his wooden Indian. bear moose, a
stag or some other animal from its stock
In trade. Last season the same bear was
used for the purpose every day for five
months and was then cut up into steaks
that were pronounced to be the most de-
licious that had ever been eaten In a To-
cality that Is famous for its well-naVorcd
bear steaks San Francisco Chronicle.