Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-03-26
DUKE OF COTTONWOOD ISLAND.
Inc Title Is That of Zens Doty, a Fa-
nous Fur Trader,

Gems Doty. big game hunter, trader
and rancher. is called 1.-THE Duke of the
cottonwood Island one of the San
Juan group in Puget Sound where he
maintains the Harvey E., a trim craft
winch has navigated the rough seas off
BRUSH Columbia and Alaska for years.
lie holds the trophy as the best rifle
shot of the state of Washington as well
as the entire Pacific coast, and is one of
the picturesque figures of the west and
north. He probably is the best informed
man regarding game of the rapidly dis
appearing army of hardy fur traders in
the little known north country
Doty has made a fortune in the last
htteen years trading with Indians and
white men along the Yukon and in Alas
ka. SportSmen all over the northwest
are acquainted with him, and he is also
known to many in the middle states and
among the fur buyers iii New York and
London.
He declares that more money can be
made trading with the white hunters in
Alaska than with the Indians. This was
not so IN the earlier days, but the Alb
orlglnes have been spoiled, and the con-
ditions are different. Competition also
has changed. 1t is necessary to do trad
ing IN quicker time than formerly. and in
this it is impossible to hurry the north
ern Indians.
Doty's principal trading field, says Fur
News. is along the Yukon river. which
he has followed from the interior,
where it is a mere creek. over which
one can step, down to the mouth, where
it flows into the sea. He has also trad
ed up the Arctic circle, where the scat
tered hunters and Indians seldom see
strange faces, and he has brought out
some of the finest marten, lynx, silver
fox and red fox furs ever seen.
In the more civilized regions of Alaska,
along the Yukon, Doty says that cash
must be paid for furs, but further to the
carry in guns, blankets, knives and other
articles of use in camp. The hunters
there have no use for money but for a
pair of warm blankets they will give
most any kind of fur.
Doty declares it is a mistaken idea
| exchanged for furs with the Indians of
today. This might have been the case
at one time, but they are not so easy
now. They must have spot cash for
! their furs. However. they will take or
naments for their relics such as baskets.
A cake of toilet soap, if it has a
strong and pleasant odor, will please
them more than anything else. He told
of offering soap that has no smell to
| the sQuaws, and the Indians threw it
! away in disgust. Black tea is also popu-
lar with the northern Indians. They
will not accept green tea, and any of
this kind that is carried to Alaska for
trading purposes is wasted This he
said. is due 90 the fact that the Rus
slams invaded the country years ago and
| introduced black tea.
| Doty cleared $4,000 ON a recent trip
down the Yukon from Eagle. In addi-
| ton to making more money than on any
! previous trip. he had the time of his
life. There was excellent hunting along
the banks Of the river and by peculiar
incident he profted by the sport.
In one region the duck shooting was
the best he had ever known. Hearing
that farther on down the river the ducks
We're scarce and in demand, he tied up
his boat for few days and began kill
ing birds, which he SOLD for 81 each.