The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-02-03
SWALLOWING IT WHOLE.


 That, evidently, is what the Cincinnati Enquir las done with the propaganda of John M. Hozworl m the brown bear. Without taking the trouble ook into the accuracy of the New Workers clain n the matter, the Ohio paper editorially takes l udges in defense of the bear and advocates u enactment of a measure by Congress to estabis he sanctuary proposed by MT. Holzworth.
 In this connection under the caption, "TH BEARS the Enquirer said:
 This editorial has nothing to do with
 the stock market, though it has to do with
 bears.
 Coming world conferences have their inn
 portance and significance but all the tides
 of life are not bound up in the deliberations
 of chancellories the conversations held
 about international round tables.
 There is committee known as the
 "Committee on Protection and Preservation
 of Alaska Brown and Grizzly Bears On
 this committee are Kermit Roosevelt and
 Arthur N Pack with other eminent nature
 lovers and sponsors of wd-life protection.
 Shortly there will be introduced in Con-
 gress bill for the creation of sanctuary
 in Alaska for these animals
 To many such activity will appear strange
 but such labors have their fitting place
 i'll the scheme of things and it is to be
 trusted that the measure will meet with
 favorable consideration by Congress
 These splendid wild animals are in the
 way of following the great aux, the pas
 senger pigeon and the buffalo-aH of which
 we now wish we might have back with
 But the thoughtlessness, or greed of hunters
 and sportsmen. called, threatens the ex-
 junction of the brown and grizzly bears of
 our great Northern Territory. Hence the
 move for their protection and preservation.
 These animals, contrary to the general
 opinion, in large measure are harmless. Let
 them alone and they will let you alone.
 Cornered or attacked they will fight-as man
 will fight under similar circumstances, or
 upon slight provocation
 It is unfortunate that the Enquirer if it wei interested in Alaska brown bears, did not go ome authority on them for definite information 0 their nature the protection that is at presel Ifforded them, and whether under it they are beii lepleted or threatened with extermination. Aft Il is said, whether. MT. JIolzworth claims 'The re no bad bears. or as ths other side argue. al ear is potentially bad until proved otherwise, is mall moment. The major issue is whether u pecies is threatened with extinction
 MT Hozworth undertakes to show they are bl le fails to submit any valid supporting proof C he contrary the figure he does use in connectic sith Admiralty Island, if it can be accepted as al correct taken into consideration with other data, would show that u ear is not only not being wiped out. but is actual in number each year.
 In recent article in Outdoor Life, he estimat he number of brown bear and grizzly bear on Ae niralty Island at 5000. He failed to divide tn nto sexes, but it is reasonable to assume an equ ivision, or 2,500 males and females Each of u emales will bear two cubs bennially, making u irth rate biennial increase of 5000 Deductir osses due to death from old age and in infanc 1hich is not inconsiderable the average bienni increase. before the toll taken by hunters, ought e at least one-half that figure.
 Now for the death rate from hunting This he source of the greatest losses in Alaska's bel population if MT. Holzworth and his co-propagandis re to be believed The rate of kill is so large Q threaten externnation. But what are the actu gures? Nonresident hunters in 1881 killed S rown bears on Admiralty Island That is u fficial figure given by the Alaska Game Commi ion and, since every nonresident hunter is require y law to report his kill, and to get export permi Q take out his trophy, 1t probably wont be dispute there are definite figures on u lumber killed by residents. Officials have indicats hat the total is not more than three times u gure for non-residents, or 18 animals last yea familiar with the situation agree tn his is generous estimate
 If this be accepted, it takes no student of high to understand that Admiralty Islar ould soon be so densely populated with bears tn 1ey would eat up all of the other animals al ie off from starvation always providing MT. Hol orths estimate of 5000 is sound. It probably 70 high Most local authorities, including hunter shermen, guides, prospectors, game wardens al ,hers whose vacations or ayocations take them in lat and other Southeast Alaska districts agr lat there has been slight but steady increa bears for several years. There has been of the species, at any rate.
 This is but once instance wherein Mr Holzwortt