El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-22
VTASHINGTON, D. G.. July p
. The territory of Alaska this
month anterr l1nnn new

~
month. enters upon new
phase of its existence. 1t becomes
vast game preserve-not, Will be I'M
derstood, for the benefit of sportsmen
or for any privileged class of citizens,
but for the use of the nation at large.
The chief reason why this transforma-
ton is effected, under direction by con-
gress, is that the game animals and fur-
bearing mammals of our Arctic province
have been seriously threatened with ex-
termination by ruthless hunting. Not
only are the fur seals nearly gone, but
the sea offers are all but extinct the
beaver are in imminent danger of being
wiped out entirely, and such minor FUR
bearers as the land otter, the marten, the
mink. the fisher, the sable, the weasel,
the muskrat, the lynx, the wildcat and
the erlnine are in most urgent need OF
protection.
Hitherto these smaller fur-bearing
mammals have looked for administrative
protection to the treasury department,
(which has done nothing for them what
ever. The principal trouble with the
wild animals of Alaska, indeed, has been
that the business of looking out for them
has been distributed among four execu-
tive departments, with occasional inter-
ference from the white house. All of
this is now changed. From this date the
biological survey (of the department of
agriculture) will control the affairs OF
the game animals and plumage birds and
the furlbearing creatures Will be under
the management of the fisheries bureau.
Fur Bearing Animals Exempt.
Henceforward no fur-bearing animal
of any species will be allowed to be
killed in the territory. under heavy pen
atty of fine and jail-save onlv such
as the fisheries bureau permits, under
certain conditions to be trapped or shot
The sea otter is not to be hunted at all
for nine wears to come, and the beaver
not for four years Suitable closed sea
sons will be established by the fisheries
bureau for mink, muskrat, ermine and
the other minor mammals already men
toned
This is simply a new move in the di-
rection of conservation. 1t is desired,
largely for the sake OF the fur trade, to
prevent the determination of the native
Alaskan mammals, and even TO encoIlr
age their increase. How far such crea-
lures are capable of maintaining their
numbers with any sort of show for sur
vival is illustrated by the fact that
in the Hudson BAY region, exploited as
it has been by the fur companies for
centuries. the abundance of most of the
valuable fur bearers is as great as ever. I
Five wardens win be appointed TO
look after the fur-bearing animals in
Alaska Their duty will be ~ to en-
dohse the regulations; ~ to study the
habits, geographical distribution and
abundance. food. natural enemies, and
particularly the breeding seasons of the
various animals concerned; and 81 to
collect specimens of them IN each fur
producing region throughout the year.
It might be said that the capable per-
4
would demand the services of first class
field naturalists, and such is, in fact
the case. The men selected fer these
places Will be clever young fellows who
have developed talent for natural MS
tory in this special line, and will be
glad to accept moderate pay with the
opportunities afforded for. study in a
part of the world that is comparatively
little known from a geological stand
point.
Must Be Taxidermists.
They will have to be gooi practical
taxideFmists, in order to collect the
requisite specimens-this being MATTER
of great Importance For there is a par+
of the year during which each fur bearing
mammal is in poor condition, its skin be-
ing more or less shabby. Obviously, the |
killing of the species, whatever it may
be, ought to be prohibited during this |
period As yet, however, it is not known
Just what these seasons of poor condition |
are: and they vary not only with the |
kind of animal, but also with the re-
gion.
But suppose that a warden is sta |
toned for one or two years in the re-
gion of the headwaters of the Yukon |
river. He collects in each month a doz- |
en- specimens of each kind of fur bearing |
animal. At the end of a twelvemonth, |
when these specimens are spread out |
on table, it can be seen at a glance !
Just what is the period during which |
each species ought not to be allowed to |
be killed.
With view TO giving the best pos |
sibe protection to the various animals |
it is important to know as /
much as possible about their abundance. |
geographical distribution, natural en-.
emies and food. But most necessary
of all it is to be acquainted with their /
breeding season. and to learn how old |