New Britain herald., 1928-07-17
BLACK BEAR HUNT
 0N ALASKALEDGE
Thrilling Adventure Ends With BaggiDg of Three Animals
(By J. XANCE)

tBy J. NANCE)
 Now for a bear-hunt l assume that those who have followed the series of descriptions which have been published in the Herald con- corning our trip into the Aleutlans and Alaskan peninsula have been more of less interested in the bears of that country. which animals Were the chief objective of our trip. Of course the big Kodiak bears are the most intriguing Of brutes, survivors of an ancient tribe Of Ursus. almost prehistoric in their size, strength and habits. But this article will not be concerned with them, rather with species Of black bear. smaller, just as wicked, but not as dangerous as their bigger cousins which are fair ly common over some of the Alas kan country. l am told that 1t is good policy to keep the climax for the finish of a story or series. There fore l am going 10 preserve the story Of the kodiakS for the end in order 
 It has long been my contention that the best of writers on outdoor life have never been able to incor- porate in their stories the thrill of a hunt. Minute descriptions are given of how the party got there and how they got back but the actual hagging of the game, the real req
 -I+ !, A few words 1 have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to impart to sportsman the thrill which comes to a hunter when he succeeds in his quest. The story seems flat to the sportsman who has had thrills of his own. It Is also difficult to excite anyone who has not hunted: words are not sufficient to inoeulate him with the virus of the open. I do not fatter myself that I may achieve where better men than I have failed, but. in self defense. I am going to write of ths bagging of three bears from one spot. The self-defense element in the story is the desire to be absolv- ed from repeating it to everyone l meet. So here goes.
 Under Oyerhanging Ridges
 Picture to yourself, If my poor words can supply the groundwork for an adequate mental image to you, long water filled valley in the rocks some five miles deep and a half mile wide. On every side, as the entrance is but a hundred feet wide, rise cliffs, jagged, bare and sinister. Some of them are a couple of thousand feet high, terminating in saw tooth peaks that actually overhang the fjord below; other, lower points or ridges, just as sharp and just as irregular, connect the higher peaks. Occasionally a stream of water from some unseen snow pocket feathers it's way through a deepened seam and drops into the deep blue of the salt water in which our boat floats, lacelike and delicate from a distance, strong and impetu- ous from nearby point. Although the boat is some hundreds of yards from the cliffs it is necessary to bend the head far backward to see the tops of them. Because of the slope the rocks have gathered no snow but occasionally, on their faces may be seen sizeable ledge on which a small patch or two Of green grass is growing The sea- son Is short in that country and the fnI11Ra lyn tho hnSf oF ;%p opportunities in the spring. even to the extent of pushing up through a snow bank
 Every now and then the breaking off of rocks from the peaks above for countless generations has formed slides. up which it is possible for man and beat to make a way. The slope IS gentler as the slides have filled path from the bottom of the tjord. no one knows how deep, up the faces of the cliffs. It is all man can do to scramble up these slides on all fours but it can be done.
 Bears seen on High Ledge
 This. then, was the setting for our hunt for blacks" We saw several 6Ioups tl!dl udy, II pears In all We figured. but the last four were the only ones approachable. AS the 'WestWard'. our staunch little con- reyance. cruised up the fjord We were all on the forecastle wondering what unusual sight was going 10 be next offered us in this land of queer happenings. Then some one sighted the four bears. Up, maybe thous- and feet, on 8 ledge they were, seek ing a few blades of fresh grass 10 assuage their hunger after their Information. The bear introduces himself 10 food after his long win- ter fast very cautiously. He does not eat much, and that is usually green stuff for several weeks after emerging from his den. A mother and three cubs of about two years were having one Of their first meals of the spring on the ledge. Fate had presented US with all unusual