Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-17
Birds and Beasts of Alaska
Increase With Help of Law

Wild animal life still abounds in
Alaska and is not being ruthlessly
cXterminated, says Governor Scott C..
Bone, in his first annual report on
the Alaska Game Law just published
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 empha-
sizes the impossibility of literal en-
forcement of the law in a territory so
large. inaccessible, and sparsely pop
ulated.
Alaska, it would seem from this re-
port is our last great reservoir Of
game, comprising 100000 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 guess
work, 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.
Bears of all varieties, caribou, and
moose, although diminished in GER
tain sections, have not as a 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 depredations of migra-
tory cannery men. Reports from
some sections say that leavers are
being cXterminated by trappers,
while in other places they are siad to
have increased to such an extent as
to dam up streams and do great
damage.
The Legislature of Alaska has pro-
vided for bountics of SIS each on
wolves and so cents each for eagles
killed. Wolves and wolverines are
ruthless destroyers of game and SUR
animals, and eagles are believed to
kill many kids of the mountain goat.
Strange to say. the brown bear, con-
sidered predatory animal and some-
times the aggressor in attacks on man,
IS theoretically protected by the law,
but because of the nature of the beas
it is meaningless legal form. Black.
grizzly and polar bears are in better
favor.
Moose on the Kenai Peninsula appear
TO be in greater numbers that former
ly. though the herds may be decreas-
ing in other parts of the territor-.
Deer are. perhaps, less plentiful ex-
cept in southeastern Alaska.
Because of the low price of furs
there has been less trapping than
usual, and minks, martens and beavers
seem 70 be increasing rapidly. LynxeS,
which disappeared for few years. are
returning along with small game. Sea
offers, as result of protective lepis-
plation. are multiplying noticeablv
The fox-farming industry is devotion.
ing. Game birds are abundantly in ev.
idence, ptarmigan and grouce being
more plentiful than in years.
An appendix to the report Contains
tables showing licenses paid by nom
residents for hunting. and for shin.
ping game. skins, heads and horns. Cit
lzens OF the United States not resi-
dents of Alaska pay hunting licenses
of $50 and nonresident aliens 500
Special moose-shipping licenses are
s1oo. Various fees are charged to per.
NIT shipping of trophies for other than
private use: $40 for a head of
mountain sheep, S. for the head of
mountain goat. $40 for pair of moose
morse and s. for bear skin. During
me year "a hunting licenses were is
sued 20 to citizens of the United
states nonresident in Alaska and one
to citizen of Great Britain. A license
IS not required of residents of the ter
ritory.