The Nome nugget., 1928-02-18

few of them manage to escape. 1t is said. As result of this prac- tice. the rat take in the district has been dwindling and last sea son was the smallest in years.
 Unborn Calves Delicacy
 The craving of Indians of the district for the flesh of unborn calves had led to some inroads on the moose and caribou, but how extensive it was impossible to de- termine as several other factors have combined to cut the normal increase. In the spring months. COW moose and caribou are slaugh- tered just for the unborn calves which are highly regarded as del icacy by the Indians.
 Hunting by the Indians is not confined to guns. Large numbers of caribou and some moose are snared, and not always are they used after being taken. The 1n- dians build fences of brush in which are left openings at convenient in- tervals and likely places. and big snares of rawhide. rope or old tel egraph wire are placed in these openings. Caribou and moose at tempting to go through are thus entrapped. Indifference. and often SJnV srh l,1 hn rf of the Indians sometimes leads them to neglect their fences and ensnar- ed animals are left to starve to death.
 Trapped in Abandoned Line
 Some 25 years ago the United States Signal Corps constructed and maintained for several years a telegraph line between Gulkana and Eagle along what is known as the "Ketchumstuk Trail. Shotly after the Fairbanks stam- pede this line was abandoned and the wire left strung on the poles. It soon began to fall in.o decay and as the poles rotted and were blown or burned down, the wire lay strung loosely on the ground.
 That this wire has taken few caribou victims was evidenced by parts of skeletons discovered by ;he Game Commission representa- tives. Photographs taken by them show ire-wrapped skulls. wire en- tanglef feet. all t1at remained of animals which apparently were caught and failed to free them selves.
 Forest Fire Menace
 Probably the most serious situa- tion is that caused by forest fires. occurring accidentally or by de sign. Observers. after spending weeks in the field, said 75 per cent of the Upper Panama river basin has been burned over. and 20 per cent of it in the past 10 or Is years. Some of the rolling hills have been burned twice in the past 20 years and as a result it will take many years for new growth of brush and timber to start, so barren is the top soil.
 It was said that most of the fires were probably started by the In- dians. who believed that new growth of underbrush thus started would bring more moose into the lieved to have been started by pres pectors in clearing off vegetation to determine the character of the geological formation. Carelessness also played the usual contributary part in the fires.
 Sentiment is Changing
 For years it was reported there was a prevailing sentiment that forest fires did no material harm the region. However. the Indians to some extent, and virtually all of the white traders and trappers have noted that game and fur-bear- ing animals have become scarcer with each successive fire. As a re- suit of this experience there is growing sentiment for fire proven tion.
 A realization has come slowly but surely, it was said, that burned