The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-01-19
BUFFALO, GAME BIRDS
 FOR ALASKA
Stockings in Norfhland d Prove Satisfactory in
 Several Instances


 There have been two separate transplantings of. Roosevelt elk to Alaska, one of which is highly sue cessful, the other very much in doubt In September of 1926, one male and one female elk were re- leased on Kruzof Island near Sitka. The following year six more elk were planted there. Apparently these elk did not find conditions on Kruzof Island suitable, because they were soon seen in widely separated parts of adjacent Chichagof and Baranof islands. At this time, it is believed that small group of these animals are still surviving in the mountains at the head of Fresh Water Bay on Chichagof Island.
 Extremely gratifying, however, was the project wherein eight elk were placed on the Kodiak -Afognak Island Group in September of 1928. procured from the State of Wash procured from the Sttae of Wash ington in exchange for Alaska mountain goats, at the ratio of two elk for one goat, were quite trouble some to the settlers. In March, 1929, they were moved across the straits from Kalsin Bay, Kodiak Island to Afognak Island On Afognak they have made remarkable progress. At the present time it is estimated that a herd of 150 elk has developed from the eight animals placed in that region only eight years ago and, the expectations are that these animals will continue to mount in numbers and finally cross over to stcck Kodiak Island. Experts who have examined the Afognak elk de- clare them to be the finest of their kind in North America.
 In transplanting elk to other areas in Alaska, it should be borne in mind that their food habits are somewhat similar to moose and to deer: therefore, they should not be placed in areas where they are likely to enter into competition for the food supply The area between Healy on the Alaska Railroad and Big Delta on the Richardson Highway might prove suitable. Other areas which might be considered are Cop per Center, the Upper Chickaloon and the islands of Prince William Sound
 Buffalo
 n June 1928, g buffalo were se- lected from the National Bison Range at Moisese, Montana. and taken to Fairbanks from which point 20 were carried 91 miles by truck to a corral on the Big Delta flats, three being held at the col lege for observation. From this orig inal shipment of buffalo there has been an astonishing increase. In ten years they have built up to a herd of at least ITS animals. And as in the case of the elk, the buffalo stock has physically improved since being released in Alaska. At no time during the ten years during which the buffalo have ranged in the Big Delta and Jarvis Creek areas have they required any outside assistance, They have come through the winters in fine shape and their rate of in crease has been extremely high. On their present range, it is calculated that there is sufficient all year feed for about 1900 buffalo, after which there must come natural spread to outlying areas.
 Further plantings of buffalo to Alaska should have in mind the establishments of new herds so plac- ed that they will naturally mingle with the older herd after several years of increase in the Territory. Areas which might be considered are Copper Center, Paxson, the Up- per Chickaloon and the area west of Ferry on the Alaska Railroad.
 The cost of obtaining buffalo, in 1923 was confined to crating and shipping charges only. The animals were furnished free. It is believed that more animals might be secured on the same basis, which will permit their being released in Alaska for about $50 each 5 ,
 Game Birds
 The stocking of Alaska with game birds has not been very successful, due mostly tp the fact that unsuit- able birds we're selected. From ob- servations on the several plantings of ring-necked and English type pheasants, it has become apparent that these birds can not survive and