New-York tribune., 1911-11-26

,-.ryrieht 1911. by william L. Ahdorfer)
AS<A-the territory of many prob
n ieuos-now has a wild game prob
n lem TO unravel. Uncle Sam, profit
- nv experience, has taken the bull BY
80 horns in this case and to handle the
,.,r properly has created a new divi-
-, ~ the Bureau Of Fisheries at Wash
-, to he known as the Alaska Fish
cries survey.
This new division Will hereafter look after
- Alaska fur seals. the Lesser fur-bearing
a.,p,als. the beaver and sea otter, and al
.,ost all varieties Of bear. From now on
- fpr-bearing animal may be killed in
Toeka except under the rules laid down
-. the new Fisheries Survey. The sea
o,,er the most valuable fur-bearing animal
,r the world. is not TO be hunted FOR a
reriod Of nine years. while the beaver is
% have a respite for period OF four years
The main work however, Of the new diNl-
sion will he TO take the greatest care OF
,be fur seals. Five game wardens nave
,,st been appointed, and they are to guard
not only the fur-bearing animals of Alaska
hrt also TO study their habits and report
direct 10 Washington.
Dr Barton w Evcrmann, who will have
airect charge of Alaska's vast game re-
sources. under the supervision of Comms-
sioner George NJ. Bowers, gave the writer
an interesting talk on the duties OF the rev
5,,ision. when the fur seal service was
,,orsferred 10 the Bureau of Fisheries,
ssid Dr.. Evermann, 1T became necessary
% reorgauize the bureau 10 some extent in
order TO take care of that Service. In the
ha for service. the
Alaska salmon service and the fur-hearing
animals Of Alaska were all placed together
,n6er the title Of the Alaska Fisheries Sur
vcy. with myself as chief of the division
This was provided for by the last Congress
and the service was organized on the hrst
day Of last July.
The lease of the North American Com
mercisl Company expired in the spring OF
1910 when the government decided not TO
release the islands and it is now operating
them under the control Of this division.
TIE government has taken complete charge
OF The seals. and is marketing the skins
with the result that the catch is much
more profitable than il ever was before.
Another good result of the taking over OF
the fur seal business by the government is
that the natives or the Islands are now
employed by Uncle Sam, and they receive
much better treatment and more money
than ever before.
"In addition 10 the seals there are other
valuable fur-bcarine animals, on the Priby-
low Islands auons which is the blue fox.
The skin of a blue fox is worth about $50
and is quite as valuable as that Of the fur
seal. The total catch of f'blue foxes during
the winter Of 1901 was 39l.
Little attention was given the blue fox
on these islands before, but it is believed
the yield Of this species Of fox can be
easily increased to more than a thousand
a year il proper care is provided There
are q few white foxes on the islands. but
they are permitted TO be killed, because the
skins are worth very little and they are a
source Of great danger TO the blue fox.
Tile law OF April q, 1910, placed all fur
bearing animals Of Alaska under the iuris-
dicton Of the Bureau Of Fisheries Up to
tha. time they had been under the con-
troll Of the Treasury Department, which
did very little toward conserving the sup
ply or regulating the taking of fur-bearing
animals In Alaska. Under that law the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor has es-
tablished open seasons during which the
skins Of fur-bearing animals may be legal
~ taken.
This law made provisions for five war
dens, whose duty it Will be 10 see that
the law is observed. Great difficulty was
experienced in determining just what
should be the limit Of the closed season
or open season in Alaska, because Of the
lack of definite knowledge as to the breed
ing habits of the different fur-bearing
animals. Also regarding the condition Of
the animals during the different months Of
the year. in order that the bureau may
prescribe nroper regulations. these war