The Wrangell sentinel., 1938-03-18
FUR AND GAME CONTROL
AlaskaZ Empire

askans had to bear because some body back in Washington wished itI upon them. Residents of the Terri tory didn't personally have much useI for game laws, and there wasn't much use for the regulations so farI as true Alaskans were concerned be- cause they knew the value of wild life to their very existence with thel result that they were excellent con- servators. They didn' t->waste or loot, but took game for their needs only.
 AS time rolled along game eontroll became all accepted fact and thel Territory took it's first direct inter- est in 1t with the establishment of the Alaska Game Commission. Even with this venture there were still al great many residents of the Territory who thought 1t was mostly g waste Of money, and, at best, a necessary evil.
 There may be a few who still think so, but reports reaching theI Commission at it's annual session which has just concluded here would indicate the number to be indeed small. On the contrary, the Commis- sion found, it's members pointed out in published articles, and there isl a preponderant sentiment favoringl game control at the present time, and it doesn't come, as might be ex- pected, from organized sportsmen' groups so much as from the men out ln the game country-the trappers, the hunters and those who have the first hand contact.
 These men are finding out, jadg- ing from the reports to the Commits sion, that Alaska is experiencing anl influx of new people, and largei number of these game-starved new corners from the Outside are inyad-I ing the trap lines, the fur and gameI districts which for years have stood almost inViolate. The sourdough, who for years has made his living inl the wilderness, mining in the sum mer and running his trap line in theI winter, finds his district oyer-run
 
 and fur as fast as possible, with lit tie of the conservation wisdom which the old sourdough used through the years-taking what he needed but not depicting the supply, and incl dentally, seeing to it that his neigh bor did the same thing.
 An article in yesterdays Empire based on reports to the Commission, reveals that the old sourdough's s findings is substantiated by the re- cords. In 1886 there were 4,172I trappers' licenses issued in the Ter ritory. This year the Commission es- inmates the number will reach 10,-I 900. It has been going up rapidly year by year. Revealing, too, that these newcomers have not the con serYation wisdom of the oldtimer, nor, in many instances, the desire to keep their business on a sound basis is recorded that game law violationsl jumped from 118 to S29 ill two yearsl and that fines from conviction forI violating the law scared from $3,-l
 
 time Alaska trapper who is runningI afoul of the law. Says Executive Of- ficer Frank Dufresne of the Cont mission:
 Without a doubt the greater part of our trouble now lies with theI newcomers to the Territory, for the most part aliens."
 It seems to simmer down to thel simple fact that Alaska's great fur industry, third largest industry in, the Territory, and it's world famous game fields have been caught in the tide of modern progress which isl moving rapidly northward. And, if we are to retain fur as one of our principle industries and big game as one of our great attractions, itl is apparent that we must move to- ward greater protection rather than less, just as we keep constantly nov ing toward conservation of our greatest industry, the commercial fishing business, So that it might not be ravaged by despoilers for future years.
 Fur and game control in Alaska is more than just the arrest of some violator for shooting a deer out of season. It is the preservation of ne of our basic industries. It is just as important to protect that which we already have as it is to develop ourI latent industries and resources as we are now doing. It seems to us that the appropriations committees of Congress who have the duty of setting aside funds for Alaska activ- ities can do we'll to consider preser-l vation of our existent industries atl the same time that they deliberate on aids for furthering development n..r r.nfanpa1 nafYrrol