The Washington times., 1915-01-24
Harry J. Christoffer, Chief War.
den Of Alaska for Bureau Of
Fisheries, Is Home.
LAUDS MIDNIGHT SUN LAND
But Thinks Those Going There
Now to Find Work Will Be
Disappointed.
By J. R. HILDEBRAND.

ny j. II. dllIDEbHAND.
He's the policeman on q beat 1900
miles long and more than 1000 miles
wide. His day trick Is thre1 months
long. for he patrols a district In tho
land Of midnight sun. And when he
has q furlough 1t costs him nearly $500
to come home.
The gentleman in question 10 Harry
J. Christoffer. chief warden Of Alaska
for tho Bureau Of Fisheries. He has
just arrived in Washington after two
ysars e auty E q. tie E:.mos
gold mines, Alaska.
Used To Being Lonesome.
Lonesome? Well a fellow gets used
to that after couple Of years." he
drawled. And dangerous? The ma
tives. and the animals. and the climate
are harmless. but travelling in summer
surface is frozen. the dog sleds are
safe and speedy. But in summer the
rivers are treacherous. A fellow who
gets caught in them IL a soner. for the
ssa ssat sE hsavy sss with .vsn wat1r
the water we're not 50 cold that 3 chap
into an Alaskan stream
Mr.; Christotfer is well known in
here as sc!entifc assistant at the
Of protecting the fur-bearlng animals
Ct Alaska was undertaken by Uncle
task Of being the chief warden Of
Alaska. He chose to deal with the
animals of the interior. while his as
sistants are stationed along stretches
Of the bleak coast where they also look
after the salmon and seal fisheries.
Esquimaux Most Friendly.
1T gives one a strange weird sensa-
ton at first to 60 for days without the
sight Of a white face. But the Indians
and Eskimos are most friendly
White men are chary about accepting
their hospitality, because their huts
which one would wish to eat or sleep.
On my trips I usually take a camping
outfit and enough food TO last me until
I get back to the base Of supplies. at
Fairbanks. where I make my head
AUTOMOBILES have penetrated to Fair
banks. and for 500 one can make the
trip Of $40 miles to Ch!tina. on his way
ful tribute to the cars used that they
can climb the tedious passages. crawl
along the steep trails. ford the streams
climb across the glaciers. and make the
iss called q road
Breeding Silver Gray Fox.
Mr.. Christoffer's principal work is
in protecting and developing the new
industry Of breeding the silver gray fox.
which many Americans now are em-
barking upon in Alaska, in the hope Of
duplicating the profits already made
at that enterprise by Canadians. A
silver gray fox. Is worth $1,000 or more.
and in a wild state these animals
breed at the rate Of four or I'VE q year.
80 far. when brought into captivity.
they have not been bred that rapidly.
TO check the taking Of unprimed skins
and to prevent the killing Of the fox.
otter or mink. marten (American sable).
weasel or muskrat out Of season Is the
scope Of Mr.. Christoffer's duties. Few
arrests are made. Instead. every effort
is made to educate the Indians, who are
extremely ignorant In the Alaskan in
terror. not to violate the game laws.
THE idea Of the average man from
the. States about the rigors OF Alaska
are erroneous" Mr.. Christoffer explain
ed. Vegetables are raised there in
abundance. I have pictures of myself
in oat fields, where the grain stands
as high as I. Wheat, potatoes, and
celery seem especially adapted to the