The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-11

: dtiu tniiiIoI1> OF uOilaTS worth
operty to keep possession of a
s? Why not let the japanese
i've or freeze TO death.
eral explanations why-but where
ever trees have been planted they
thrive. On one windswept isle
troops have planted a single sap
ling. surrounded IL with a tight
fence and dubbed II the Aleutian
National Forest. One small juni-
periike tree grows naturally on
some islands. II Ii a dwarf species
only IS To "a inches tall-but a
tree nonetheless.
Contrary TO common opinion, the
soil Is not particularly rocky. True.
volcanoes in places have thrown
huge boulders for miles toward the
beaches. True. too, that nearly
every island is topped with some
kind Of fogbound. forbidding peak.
But around the peaks and between
the boulders are wild meadows
that would make a Missouri mule
chortle with delight.
STOCK RAISING
There are several examples of
what this chain can do as a stock
raising country. On at least two
islands. large hands Of sheep have
been grazed successfully. One band
Of 10000 has had no food other
than the natural grass in years and
Ii thriving. The thermometer
never strikes a point low enough
to bother a hardy breed. and there
are no predators 10 decimate the
lambs in spring. The sheepmen
have just one chore-the annual
shearing.
On another island. not actually
in the Aleutian but close to them
bull and half dozen heifers
were put ashore some so years ago.
Today, their descendants form a
sizeable herd. although they have
been left entirely TO themselves
except for occasional killing
parties.
FINE FUR COUNTRY
As fur growing country. the Is
lands are unsurpassed. Wet winds
and foggy days produce superior
pelts. The blue foxes. whose origin
is a matter Of doubt. have multi
piled consistently. providing a
steady living for number of
white and native trappers.
The average Aluetian stream, six
feet wide In September, 10 q
frothy. living thing with hum
backed salmon fighting for swim
ming room or floating drearily
down after spawning. Close on the
heels Of the salmon are myriads of
trout getting fat on the salmon
eggs.
Along the saltwater beaches,
seafood is plentiful. The spider
crab frequently Is six feet from toe
to toe. and excellent eating. For
Goldfish and halifut. It Is only nee
essary to drop a hook over the
stern Of boat and bait 1t with al
most from a red rag to a chunk
Of bacon fat. Various other small
Ter fish are sommon.
CLAM YIELD
In almost every bay half dozen
hair seals keep constant curious
watch on the world, and herds of
fur seals--protected by the dead
whales floating up on the beaches
are regular olfactory menaces.
Almost any beach will yield shells
Of both butter and razor clans.
Climaticaily, these islands are
not paradise. The wind blows al
most as much as II does In Kan
sas, the rain is even more constant
than In the Pacific Northwest. and
the combination brings on a hori-
zontal soaking that is no fun in
either the Aieut or English
tongues.
Lack Of trees makes firewood
and building materials a definite
problem for a single settler or an
army. No coal has been found.
and few other minerals have been
mined: although exploration is FAR
from complete. Some VOLCANOES are
active and II Is only n years since
the top OF one Mount katmai. on
the mainland. but in the same geo.
graphical area-blew off with an
explosion heard practically around
the world. Mount veniaminoff.
even closer to the islands. has been
in eruption within the last three
years. Several peaks on the
islands smoke constantly.
RUGGED MOUNTAINS
The chain is rugged. but not bar
rem in any sense Of the word. A
Japanese journalist who visited
Alaska several years ago was
quoted as saying the chain could
support 5000. 900 Japanese in COM
parative comfort.
And even the American soldiers
who have the wet and nasty Job
OF keeping any part Of those s.
000. 900 from settling permanently
will admit. homesick as they are.
that the foggy peaks. the blues