The Nenana news., 1922-04-18

Prof. 0. J. Nitric, of the Biologo- cal Survey, who recently returned to Fairbanks from the kuskokwin district, nas given The News repre- sentative the following interesting account of his trip:
 Went into the Kuskokwim region over Rainy Pass, leaving Nancy, on the Government railroad, about the first of February. Upon completing field work in that territory, I re- turned to Fairbanks l-- ---av of Lake Minchumina and the Kantishna. On the whole, the weather was ideal for travelling, as it has been all win ter. The mail carriers on the Rainy Pass route have experienced little difficulty this winter and the mail service has been very satisfactory. March proved to be the coldest month and drifting snow hindered progress for a time.
 T stopped for a time on the upper South Fork of the Kuskokwim among the caribou and mountain sheep and secured a number of specimens for the Biological Survey collections. On the whole, the big game situation looks promising in most localities. Big game is rather scarce on the  south slope of the Alaska range and in the Skwentna River region, al- ! though some moose occur there. The snow fall is too heavy in that humid climate for such animals as caribou and sheep. There is an area along the SBlwentna River, referred to To- cally as the snow belt, 70 or 50 miles wide, where a traveller Is like ly to be held up by sudden heavy snow fall, and everyone hurries i through while the going is good. On the north, or interior slope of the range. conditions are different. The snow is not deep and big game is more plentiful. Moose are numerous ] in the Lake Minchumina district.
 Most fur-bearing animals are rather scarce. Beaver are fairly plentiful in many places, but foxes seem quite scarce. met with no trappers who had made a really good catch of fur.
 1 "A very interesting trip was made to the reindeer herd of A. H. Twit- chell, near Orphir. There I had an opportunity to compare the caribou and reindeer, side by side, as several caribou had wandered into the herd. The wild species could easily be dis tinguished at a considerable dis tance, being much taller than the reindeer and with different propor- tions. The Biological Survey plans to experiment with crossing the larger species of caribou with the reindeer and eventually build up a larger and finer domestic animal, just as beef cattle have been de l veloped.
 1 "The Government herd of rein deer. enroute to Broad Pass, had 1 considerable difficulty crossing the ! flats between MeGrath and the
 Alaska range, due to the deep snow and lack of sufficient feed. Many animals were lost in that part oi the journey. When last heard from
 however, they had reached the foot hills, where the feed is good, and will probably stop there, in the vicinity
 of the South Fork, to rest up and feed. The animals should thrive well now, having reached the hills.
 While in the Kantishna district
 met Sam Fedderson. who donated large bear skull to the Biological 1 Survey collection. This was the beal which attacked Mir. Fedderson last fall, after having been wounded, and fought with him until two well placed shots by a companion, MT. Henry Knight, finished the bear. Mr. Fedderson carries the .uotn rks on his arm. ....:.~# .~~.... F.. .>... .
 Everyone in th. Gaatish n is busy preparing for the summer ast- ivities and the trails are filled with dog mushers freightiag in supplies. 7" The city has undertaken the work of repairing the waterfront, in an ticipation of the breakup.
 All of the local churches were Sllnd or CrnAar- and the Easra, epr-