The Nome nugget., 1927-03-26
CIRCULAR LETTER TO
 TRAPPERS AND FUR DEALERS

! tlOn Of Alaska can De allowed to continue from year to year depends | to a large extent on the care exer- ] cised by Alaskans to see that the supply is not depleted.
 If the animals are taken in excess of the limits or are wastefully kill ed and the supply is endangered. it 1 is practically certain that it will be I nelcessary to close the season on them again. If, however, trappers limit themselves to the number per mitted by the regulations and see that all persons do likewise. and fur dealers assist in the observance of the law by buying only legally taken skins, it is believed that the beaver season may be allowed open for short period each year.
 The Alaska Game Commission calls this to the attention of inter ested parties in the region in which the beaver season is opened for the Spring of 1927. in order that they may assist in protecting the beaver and maintaining the supply so that the region may continue to profit by an annual beaver crop.
 The regulations permit the pur- chase and sale of unsealed as well as sealed beaver skins after May l., 1927 provided such skins have been legally taken. Fur buyers should not purchase any unsealed beaver skins before May 1, 1927, for until that date any unsealed beaver skins found in the Territory are liable to seizure and forfeiture. From May II, 1927 to September 2S, 1927. un- sealed beaver skins which have been legally taken may be purchased and sold provided they are accompanied took the animals certifying to the skins having been legally taken and that the trapper had not taken more than the seasonal limit.
 For their own protection. fur dealers to whom unsealed beaver skins are presented by trappers who claim the skins are legally taken. should insist that the trapper should supply with the skins an affidavit tliat the skins were legally taken by the trapper during the open season for taking beaver and that he has not during the open season taken more than the seasonal bag limit of 20 skins. In remote re pions where ii is not practicable for trapperS to appear before officers authorized to administer oaths. the Commissions officer will accept statements sworn to before post masters or witnessed by two per sons, whose addresses should he stated.
 All beaver skins must be sealed before September 2S. 1927 and any unsealed skins found in possession after that date are lia able to seizure and forfeiture and the holder there of may be subject to prosecution.
 Trappers or dealers who desire to have beaver skins sealed should advise the nearest Game Warden, member Of the Commission. or the Juneau office of the Alaska Game | ~, ments may be made for sealing the skins. The Commission expects to place extra officers on duty in the region in which the beaver season will he opened during the season of 1927 and expects to be well prepar- ed to handle the sealing of skins. The officers will be instructed to fully satisfy themselves that all of the skins presented to them for seal ing have been legally taken. Any which appear to have been illegally taken will be seized. therefore fur dealers and others should take pains to insure having ample proof to show that beaver skins which they present for sealing have been legal Iy taken.
 | The maintenance of the beaver supply and the continuance of an open season will depend to large extent on the cooperation of all concerned in the strictest observ- ance of the Alaska Game Law and regulatiosn protecting beaver and providing for sealing of the skins. l Very sincerely yours. ERNEST P. WALKER, Executive Officer.