Seward daily gateway., 1929-02-27
POLICY CONSIDERED LIBERAL

In an interview accorded the Gateway few days ago. H. w. Terhune, executive officer of the Alaska Game Commission stated that the Commission takes exception with the Gateways recent statement regarding the troversy the epredaons committed by the brown bear Eoak Island and that it is matter of Big Game Hunter vs Alaska Residents" adding there is ample room for both and that they equally valuable assets to the Territory.
 Many persons have expressed their views on the suc- cess of past and present agricultural and grazing deve opments the islands of the Kodiak group and have forecasted possible future developments and possibilities
 It is an undeniable fact that considerable losses of cattle and sheep have been suffered by residents of Ko dlak and Afognak islands thru the depredaons of brown bears but Mr. Terhune asked what pioneer country has not suffered such losses from bears wolves and coyotes It true that in the early days of the western ranges states the noneers found to hunt down and Kill stock killing bears, wolves and coyotes.
 Mr. Terhune states that the provision of the present regulations permitting the killing of bears threatening life property is considered liberal and designed to care for just such situation apDarantv exists the islands He states that the past killing of cattle and sheep is probably confined to few individual bears who have occurred taste for beef and mutton thru hav ino eaten frono dead carcass and foowno animal r- stinct have nocendnd satisfy this taste bv secrno their heef and oton Con the hoof rather than wait for the animal to die from natural causes by accident He also believes that honest effort to kill these few indi vioual lers and careful watch for any others that develop these civilized tastes will result in lessening if not completely stopping the losses
 We know it has often been stated by recognized authorities on predatory animal control that the bear family as whole not endowed with natural instinct to kill domestic livestock but that few individual an- imas acquire the taste from having eaten of dead car cass If this correct would therefore follow that the removal of these individual Killers" would probably solve the trouble.
 The announcement of the Commission that they had recommended slight modification in the present regu aton to permit residents of certain islands of the Kodiak Afognak group engaged in agricultural and livestock grazing pursuits additional rights to protect their prop erty from maraudng bears should satisfy all reasonable demands it would see that have recently been voiced
 The Alaska Game Commission appears to be faced with dual responsbiy-that of regulating the proper use of wild life in the development of the Ter ritory we'll that of maintaining breeding to perpetuate and build this of greater magni tude than is appreciated by many people,
 Statistics show each nonresident hunter as spending over S1500 in Alaska and with the 119 hunters visiting the Territory during the endno June 30 1928 there was $175000 in cash paid to guides camp assistants boat owners and merchants Many hunters quick to see possibilities in the industries of the Territory become investors.
 The of cheor +he+ ,1cc1 fill the heart with olad fills the stomach with pain and the head with foolish ideas
 The prospector who sed dio for ood in the hills now has that pans the suckers on Main street