The Alaska daily empire., 1922-07-25
CAME Plentiful
!. SAYS GOVERNOR;
REPORT ISSUED
No determination of Game in
Alaska, According to
Gov. Bones Report.

Wild animal life still abounds in
Alaska and is not being ruthlessly
exterminated, says Governor Scott
C. Bone. in his first annual report
on the Alaska game law, just pub,
lished by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. as Department
Circular 225 The report, which is
for the fiscal year ended June 80.
1921, calls attention to the need for
continued protection and conservation
of game, with certain exceptions,
and emphasizes the impossibility of
literal enforcement of the law in a
territory so large, inaccessible, and
sparsely populated.
Alaska, it would seem from this
report is the nations last great
reservoir of game. comprising 5000
square miles of wild land and 10000
miles Of coast line. and offering a.
haven for large and small game, fur
bearing animals, and birds of great
variety Estimates as to this horde
of animal life are said to be largely
guesswork. but reports made by game
wardens, Biological Survey agents,
hunters. prospectors and other out
door men lead to the belief that many
kinds of animals are increasing in
numbers or are at least holding their
own.
Wolves Attack Deer
Bears of all varieties. caribou and
moose. although diminished in GER
tain sections, have not as whole
decreased largely in recent years
Mountain sheep and mountain goats
are maintaining their numbers. but
deer are probably less plentiful, part
ly on account of the attacks of
wolves and, It is thought. partly on
account Of the deprcdatons of migra.
tory cannery employees. Reports
from some sections say that beavers
are being exterminated by trappers.
while in other places they are said
to have Increased to such an extent
damage
The Legislature of Alaska has pro-
vided for bounties of SIS each on
wolves and so cents each for eagles
killed Wolves and wolverines are
ruthless destroyers of game and fur
animals, and eagles are believed to
kill many kids of the mountain goat.
Strange to say. the brown bear,
considered predatory animal and
sometimes the aggressor in attacks
on man, is theoretically protected by
the law, but because Of the nature Of
the beast it is meaningless legal
form. Black grizzly and polar bears
are in better favor.
Moose on the Kenai Peninsula ap-
pear to be in greater numbers than
formerly, though the herds may be
Decreasing in other parts of the Ter
ritory. Deer are, perhaps, less plenti-
full except in Southeastern Alaska.
Game Birds Abundant
Because Of the low price of furs.
there has been less trapping than
usual, and minks, martens and beav-
ers seem to be increasing rapidly.
Lynxes. which disappeared for a few
years, are returning along with small
game. Sea offers. as result OF pro
tective legislation, are multiplying
noticeably. The fox-farming industry
ia developing. Game birds are
abundantly in evidence, ptarmigan
and grouse being more plentiful than
in years.
An appendix to the report contains
tables showing licenses paid by non
residents for hunting, and for ship
ming game. skins, heads and horns.
Citizens of the United States not
residents of Alaska pay hunting
license of $50 and nonresident aliens
800. Special moose-shipping licenses
are $3.50. Various fees are charged
to permit shipping OF trophies for
other than private use-$10 for a
head of a mountain sheep, s. for the
head of mountain goat, $40 for a
pair of moose horns, and s. for
bear skin. During the year "a hunt
ing licenses were issued, % to citi-
zeffs of the United States nonresident
in Alaska and one to a citizen, of
Great Britain. A license is not re-
auired of residents of the Territory.