The Wrangell sentinel., 1922-11-09
REGARDING ENFORCEMENT
 OF THE FUR LAW

illegal traping representative of the Wrangell Sentinel inter- viewed Ernest P. Walker, chief agent of the Biological Survey in Alaska, fur law enforcement, i'm portance of wild life perpetuation, and the work of the Biological Sur ,ey along these lines. MT. Walker stated that the protection and devel- opment of the fur and other wild life resources of the Territory is of great
 1T importance than many realize. He
 stated that the trappers, fur traders and merchants are all vitally con- :erned in the perpetuation and in- crease of the supply of furbearers.
 The trapper's interest is the most di- rect, for his livelihood is wholly de- pendent on an adequate supply, and
 the fur trader is equally con cerned. The merchants are less di- rectly dependent on the fur suppy, but are none the less vitally concern ed in the perpetuation of an abun- dant stock of furbearers, for the trappers, and their families must have clothes, groceries, etc. The trapper himself must have guns, ammunition, traps and other outfitting supplies.
 in short, from the bank to the small est industry there is probably not one in community who is not directly or indirectly benefited by a successful trapping season.
 MT. Walker further stated that in l region such as ours which has so much land unsuited to any other known purpose than raising fur
 bearers and game it becomes but the part of good business to protect and develop those resources so that they may produce abundantly. He likens the situation to the stockman who tries to maintain on a given range all the animals that the range will sup port in order that he may have the maximum increase from this breeding stock. Alaska's breeding stock of fur bearers has been seriously reduced, and in order for the stock to be built up again there must be a moderation or cessation of killing. He states that as long as killing is permitted at cer- tain seasons it is the duty of all to abide by these regulations, for they are made with the intent of providing seasons during which the animals may be taken when their skins are of the maximum value and with the minimum harm to those remaining. He cites that the farmer does not kill his hogs and cattle when they are in poor flesh and that the killing of fur bearers when the skins are unprime is the same as killing stock when the animals are poor. Unprime skins are practically worthless, and bring little profit to those who handle them; whereas the same animals taken in season bring good profit to all con- cerned with them. Merely because the animals run at liberty on the public domain is no reason why they may be taken indiscriminately by whoever wishes. Wildlife is the property of the state or people, and can become the property of the individual only as he acquires it legally. Following out this reasoning, one who takes such wild life in violation of law steals from the people at large, and certainly it is as much a crime to steal from many as from one.
 Some people advocate the open beaver season in the spring instead of during the winter, but MT. Walker says that while there are some ob- jections to the winter season there are few who realize the heavy toll of female beaver with young when spring trapping is allowed. It is true ludl SIcdI ol DCdFCi hAot be taken so readily in winter, but careful competent trappers can take as many as the present supply can af- ford to spare. Of all furbearers the beaver is most easily exterminated, and with present conditions it is much better to take only few first class skins and allow the remaining animals to reproduce and build up breeding stock that will provide for future seasons.
 According to MT. Walker most of the real trappers are much opposed to early trapping and regard "sooners'' as a menace to the trap ping industry. The legitimate trap per generally realizes that it is a community interest to protect the furbearers if they are to continue to be producing resource. The work of the Biological Survey thus becomes that of representing the trappers and