Douglas Island news., 1908-06-03
Cattle Raising in Alaska

M. D. Snodgrass, superintendent of the Kodiak, Alaska, breeding station, writes the following interesting letter to the Seward Gateway:
 For many years cattle have been raised by the Russian settlers along 1 the southern coast and on the islands of the Kodiak group. At one time there were great numbers of cattle grown on Kokiak Island and the in- dustry seemed to have been we'll estab. Iished, but upon the coming of the Americans and the great rush of trad CTS into the fur country. the cattle business was neglected and the nun. Der gradually decreased from year to year, until the rich harvest in furs was over and then few men began to look about for few cattle to help make them living. Their success was limited to small degree because 80 many of them knew but little about cattle raising and many did not care to bother with more than was needed to furnish milk and butter for family use. In many places on the Islands the cat | tie received no care whatever and were left to run in the timber winter and summer without being disturbed. In few cases the cattle were allowed to inter breed and run down to scrubs, but where proper care was given the stock it grew to be profitable.
 The Experiment Station work, dur ing the last few years, has been eX- tended to take up cattle breeding and dairywork and now they have herd of fifty four head of pure bred Gallo. way cattle at Kodiak, which are in- creasing as fast as any herd of it's size in the states and are doing themselves credit in this country. The Galloway is native of Scotland and is as much at home in Alaska as in the old coun- try. They are good rustlers and have proven to be fairly good mixers for this climate. No better beef cattle are to be found and the thick coat of long hair makes their hides valuable for robes and overcoats. A fine Gal loway hide grown in this country will far discount the bear skin in beauty and service in whatever use it would be put.
 Itis the plan of the Experiment station to grow aud sell cattle to the people of Alaska at a very reasonable figure and in this way encourage the settlers to engage in stock growing. There will be no COWS or heifer calves for sale by the Station until the herd shall have increased to sufficient num- bers to warrant the disposal of COWS. There are now number of young bulls for sale to settlers who wish to breed up their stock. These bulk, calves are eligible to record and are of some of the best strains of the breed found in the states. Prices will run from $50 up depending upon the indi' vidual animals, and their age.
 An eight thousand acre reservation has been laid out for the permanent breeding station some fifteen miles south of Kodiak and three hundred twenty acres for the dairy station just back of the town. During the next three years the necessary buildings will be put up on both reservations, and the dairy will then be pushed to make it all model dairy should be.
 The climatic conditions on the south ern coast are favorable for cattle raising and the industry should be pushed by every citizen of the terri tory.
 There are some excellent opportuni- ties for men, who have small capital, in many places along the coast and on the islands to engage in cattle and sheep raising. The country Is new and the range is unlimited.