Seward daily gateway., 1924-08-05
49 CONVICTIONS OF DRY LAW VIOLATORS
 BRISTOL BAY DISTRICT

Prohibition Officer D. W. Flanagan and Special Agent Baggen returned on the Starr yesterday from a long trip through Interior Alaska, the journey by land and water extending over 4000 miles. MT. Flanagan, in company with Agen Baggen, MT. and Mrs. Gale, Mr. Fielder, of the Bethel Mercantile Co.,, and Postal Inspector , Mellick, left Seward May 12, going to Nenana, from which point they took the steamboat General Jacobs for lower Yukon river points, going as far as Holy Cross. In an interview with Gateway representative, MT. Flanagan stated that while he had no time to make thorough inwesti- gation of conditions, he visited all Indian villages en route and found some evidence of liquor violations at times during the past winter, but found only two villages where the H- quor laws were violated to any con- 1 siderable extent. Where such viola tions were found invaribly they were from traders giving liquor to natives for furs. The worst condition, accord ing to Mir. Flanagan, were found in the vicinity of Koyukuk, the traders there apparently being very active in furnishing liquor to natives.
 At Anvik, the natives were prosper ous, and also at Holy Cross. Poor conditions existed at the Russian mis- sion owing to local poverty.
 From Russian Mission polling , boats were taken, crossing the port age and proceeding to the Kuskokwim, where they were met by gas boat and taken odWn the river to Bethel. The party stopped at Akiak on the Kuskokwim and found the natives in prosperous condition under the di- rectlon of Edwin Forrest, of the Bu- reau of Education. A sawmill is owned by the government and natives at this point, and many new homes are to be found, all cleanly and oros porous looking. The branch at Quin- agak under Supt. Stecher was also in fine conditions. This mission is doing splendid work here and is prac- tically self-supporting.
 While unable to visit the natives at Nelson island, Mr.. Flanagan learned that they were in dire poverty and a miserable condition exists, owing to lack of transportation and the inac- feasibility of the country. This is the great breeding ground of the walrus and the Nelson island natives are adopts at hunting these mammals. and are also skilled carvers and workers Tn ivory. The natives on Nunivak are sad to be also in bad shape for the winter. The natives from Good News Bay, Togiak ,and Kulutak are almost exclusively dependent upon the wal rus for their subsistence and a scar clty ot these animals means starva- ton. The nearest trading posts are at Nushagak and at Bethel, which are visited at rare intervals.
 Arriving at Bethel the party was both surprised and delighted to find immense stocks of goods at low prices, despite lack of transportation. boats serving this port but twice a year. The party outftted here and left on June Is for lower Kuskokwim. Leav- Ing Bethel the first real hardships of the party were encountered. Many sandbars and uncharted waters made navigation most difficult at times, and very dangerous. After ten days hard travel, MT. Flanagan, Agent Baggen and Customs Inspector Sides, who joined the party at Bethel, arrived at Dillingham;, Bristol Bay.
 Here the first liquor violations of I magnitude were found. Seven can neries were investigated and eight law violators apprehended all of whom pleaded guilty and were fined.
 Proceeding from here to Bristol Bay proper, the officers picked up 45 men, 34 of whom were found guilty of violating the liquor laws and 11 the Federal narcotic act. Four of these men were peddlers of drugs, one being alleged to be the largest operator on the coast. The 34 plead ed guilty and were taken before Unit ed States Commission Nelson and fin ed ,and the dope operators were plac- ed under $2O00 bond to appear before the Federal court at the fall term. hTe fines in this district aggregated $42O0 Ten stills were seized and nearly thousand gallons of mash and liquor destroyed.
 ! After cleaning up the district, MT.