The Cordova daily times., 1919-03-07

on three occasions and was out until
9 or 10 o'clock several times. Mr..
James also was out late several
times, as were also the other two boys
his son and Mr.. Rogers. We only
completed our sheep group-failing to
fill, by from one to three specimens,
on the moose, caribou and goat groups.
We killed no bears at all
J. A. MCGUIRE.
Governor Riggs Reply.
| Mr. dear Mr.. McGuire:-I am afraid
that | cannot agree with you regard
| ing the sale of game in Alaska, If
legally killed and within the limit as
prescribed by law You must remem-
Der that Alaska is a pioneer country
and it is not possible for everyone to
go out and kill meat For instance,
it is impossible for me to take time
off for hunting trip and, in conse
quence, if l am not allowed to buy
game occasionally, I would be cut off
from having any game delicacy fur
nished me, unless some kindly sports
man should take pity upon me. You
must also remember that the few peo-
pie who are in Alaska (only about
$4,000 of us now are not sportsmen
in the true sense of the word. In other
words, we never kill for the sake of
killing. Game to US is merely meat,
and we do not approve of preserving
all game for the sport, principally to
nonresident who has no interest in
the territory except what he can get
out of it in the way of trophies. What
want established in Alaska are strict
and stringent laws regarding the lille
also want to make it possible for
Alaskans to eat game and not tie up
the territory as a game preserve for
a few millionaire sportsmen from the
States, who really do the territory no
good at all
In regard to ducks, it is quite true
that ducks are sold during the open
season at restaurants and hotels, as
they were in Maryland and the Dis
but you must bear in mind, that the
duck season in Alaska is extremely.
short. By October LIST there are abso-
lutely no ducks left in the interior #
Alaska and very few on the coast, all
having started on their yearly migra-
ton to the south.
The new Alaska game regulations
are out and are absolute abortions.
For instance, it provides that dogs
cannot be fed and that game must not
be used for bait. If these regulations
are enforced, it will mean that there
will be no prospectors in the hills with
dog teams and that trapping will be at
an end. l am unalterably opposed to
the boarding of dogs on game during
the summer season, or at any other
time, except when they are in use in
the hills, but if the prospector is not
allowed to feed his dogs on game,
then goodbye prospector. The game
laws of Alaska, to be-observed and en-
forced, must be such as will meet the
sense of justice of the residents. 1t is
almost impossible to secure the con-
viction of any transgressor of the
game laws by any United States COM
missioner or by any jury, and this will
obtain until we can get the people
right back Of all the laws. This can
only be done by turning the protec-
ton of game over to the territory and
not allowing people who have never
been within five thousand miles of
Alaska dictate their terms.
The people of Alaska are very jeal-
Gus of their game, as they realize that
it is essential to the development of
the country, and, if left to them, they
would devise laws and regulations
such as would meet all the existing
conditions. You will realize what
folly it is for any one man, or set of
men, who do not know Alaska, to
make the laws for country which is
as large as Great Britain and Ireland,
France, Belgium, Roumania, Italy
Greece, Montenegro, Serbia and Portu-
gal put together.
The greatest danger to the game at
present in Alaska is from the illegal
hunter and predatory animals. l only
have ten wardens to patrol territory
one-fifth the size of the United States.
During my trip, l have come across
fragrant violations of the law that have
exasperated me intensely, but what
can l do when congress only allows
me $4,000 with which to pay salaries
and travelling expenses of the game
wardens?
In regard to predatory animals, the
existence of deer in Southeastern
Alaska, on certain islands and on the
mainland is menaced by the great