The Wrangell sentinel., 1931-12-04

IreS0e, heuyOH 1diudSS, SaAS wardens, and H. H. Gubser, Leader of Predatory Animal control under the U. s. Biological survey in Alas ka, who are making an official trip through this section.
 MT. Dufresne announced that U. S. Deputy H. D. Campbell had been authorized to authenticate marten and beaver skins brought in by trappers in this district. Simi- lar appointments were made in Ju- neau, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Craig and Rake. During the open season the Seal and possibly the Sea Otter will be travelling through the out lying islands.
 To contact all trappers interested in the wolf situation, is the pur- pose of MT. Gubser on this trip.
 Reports coming into his office indicate that wolves are more abundant this year than last. Feed conditions on the mainland tend to increase predators as TO- dents and ptarmigan are coming back. The predators in destroying the feed are a menace to fur bearers as we'll as to ducks and geese.
 Prom March 1, 1929 to March 31, 1931," said MT. Gubser, work in the control of predatory wild animals was conducted in coopera- tion. with the Territory of Alaska under the joint direction of the Governor of Alaska and the Bureau of Biological Survey. The principal objects were to investigate report ed depredations by coyotes and wolves and to train assistants in control methods in each climatic section that they might efficient ly work with and increase the catch by private trappers of preda- tory wild animals.
 investigation and experience during the past two years in Alas ka have proven conclusively that due to the slow means of trans portation and the almost total lack of communication that the only economical and practical means of control in the major portion of the interior of Alaska must be accom- plished through the private trap per.
 The 4,000 or more people active ly engaged in trapping are located in all sections of the Territory and are each we'll acquainted with the local climatic condition peculiar to their locality, and when properly equipped and instructed in control methods should be a very formid- able factor in the control of preda- tory animals.
 In view of these facts the Terri torial Legislature in April, 1891 increased the bounty on coyotes and wolves from $500 and S10.00 respectively, to $15.00 each. 0w- ing to the lack of sufficient funds, it was found impossible for the Territory to carry on the bounty and to keep salaried hunters. The limited Federal funds available have, therefore, made it necessary to somewhat alter previous plans, confining operations to the inves- tigation of reported depredations and to written instructions to pri- vate trappers. A bulletin contain ing full information regarding the proper trap sets to use in the sev- eral climatic localities together with formulas of various proved scent has been mailed to every trapper in the Territory. The stim- ulus thus given has resulted in an increase in the number of predators taken from April 1, 1881 to Decem- Der 31, 1881, inclusive, over the corresponding period last year.
 During the past year coyotes have been reported as having ap- peared at the headwaters of the Old Crow River on the northeast, at Point Barrow on the northwest, at the mouth of the Kuskokwim river on the southwest and on the Kenai Peninsula. In fact there is hardly a place on the mainland of the ter ritory but is menaced by the spread of these animals. From all reports received they are apparent ly most numerous in the territory surrounding the Mt Mckinley Ma tional Park. This is undoubtedly due to more abundant food sup ply ther than elsewhere
 investigations conducted during the past summer from the Forty mile river and Eagle section on the east. to the Circle Hot Springs on the west show there is a large sec tion of country we'll adapted to game of all kinds that is practical ly unprotected from the large num- Der of wolves there. The residents of the Eagle district report over seventy-five moose found and counted that were killed by the wolves last winter. Mining is the chief industry and but few people devote any time to trapping in this entire district.
 Since the initiation of predatory