The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-08-14
EXPLORER URGES
SAVING MUSK-0x
Says Conservationists ShouIC
Protect Northern Preserves.
EARLY CONDITIONS ARE NOTED

NoO ShA oA1 10o
OK are nearing extinction is that maj
kills for h SAX of killing, says Har
old Ii. Noice, the American explorer
in a recent bulletin of the American
Game Protective association. Those
who slaughtered our great herds OF
bison, slaughtered because they liked
to kill, he says "They did not have
the vision to see that the bison must
eventually make way for the plow
which had to come, although they later
used that argument as their excuSe
The history of the fight man wages
against wild animals is much the same
wherever we 60. 1t ends in h de
~struction of the weaker. After q spe-
cies has been eXterminated we say that
the wild animal had to make way for
the domestic. But in some cases at
least the real reason lies in mans de-
sire to kill. 1t is a heritage from our
primitive ancestors.
"When Left Ericsson discovered
America he saw a land whose lakes
teemed with fish and over whose lands
and valleys roamed immense herds of
wild beasts. The people who inhab-
tied this land were much the same sort
as those who eventually conquered it
they were merely humans, but humans
who had not as yet evolved the fiend-
ish methods of wholesale killing.
They had the same desire which actu-
ated their conquerors-the desire to
kill. Blu because they had not yet at
tanned the same level Of culture, be-
cause they were armed only with the
most primitive of weapons, they were
unable to kill more than an insignifi-
can't fraction of the game in his enor
nous preserve. In fact, they could not
kill enough to offset the natural in
crease, and so, in spite of people, the
animals became more numerous year
after year.
'Then anne civilization, which put
into the hands of these primitives the
modern Instruments of death. There
followed a fight within a fight, for the
reds and whites, though mutually bel
ligerent, Joined forces in a war on wild
animals. Gradually weapons i'm
proved, more and more of them were
circulated, and the hunters pursued
their prey remorselessly. Mile by mile
and state by state the country became
almost denuded of wild life. Even the
trees were included in the terrible
slaughter until only one great game
preserve remained-the Far North.
But not for long; even it was at last
invaded.
WhaIers Make Appearance.
"First came the whalers with their
strange ships, which at first startled
and awed the simple natives who in
habited those regions. But the natives
soon learned to trust the strangers,
who had brought them new weapons
for killing. The natives found that by
working only three or o short months
a year for these strangers they could
secure guns and ammunition by the
case. Hitherto, when their only weap-
ons had been the bow and arrow and
primitive snares, they had been able
to kill barely enough caribou to supply
their wants; only enough skins to
only enough meat and fat to satisfy
their stomachs and feed their dogs.
"The mere fact that a few hundred
thousand animals were slaughtered
meant nothing to the white men who
supplied the guns. They wanted skins
for clothing and fat caribou steaks for
dinner.
"After many years had gone by it
was pointed out that unless the natives
md whites were made to realize the
anormity of their mistake the country
would become devoid of game, and so
many more years had gone by
laws were passed prohibiting
he killing of female caribou during
he calving season and limiting the
.otal number to be killed in any one
season to only a very small fraction of
number killed in former years.
These laws were not difficult to en-
'orce. for, contrary to the general be- ]
ief, Eskimos are very obedient to au- /;
hority. '
'Then there came missionaries to
ell the people what they must not
10 if they were to become saved, and I
people already used to obeying j
hose in authority, commenced to OBJ i
erve the commands of their new spir-
tual advisers. SO when the govern
nent sent their well-intentioned game
yardens to instruct the people in the :
ART Oh SdIle cOuScINdllOH llcy
ound an attentive audience of people
Tho were accustomed already to obey h
the commands of others, and who h
therefore, accepted the new doctrine h
yithout question, and before long any
who killed caribou out of season h
-as reported to the game warden. Il
The Case at Point Barrow.
"Such was the case at Point Bar II
After most of the caribou had "
cen killed off game laws were passed. 10
take another typical examples: II
hen Mr.. ~Stefansson entered the Cor "
Gulf country in 1910 he found II
wing there a people whom he de-
,ribes as belonging to the Stone age. Ia