The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-05-10

a lot safer to roam around the Alaskan hills if there were fewer bears in the underbrush.
 As Rep. Chester c. Red" Carl son of Cordova put it during the last Legislature: These bears can't vote and they don't pay taxes. l see no reason why we shouldn't get rid oi them wherever they endan- ger our lives or our Livelihood
 Any planning for large scale stock ranching in Alaska must con- slider Kodiak Island, which offers the greatest grazing area within easy reach of a market.
 It is unfortunate that the island is also the habitat of the brown Lear. Whether, in the long run, this will be more unfortunate for the bears or for domestic livestock remains to be seen. Thus far the bears have come out on top.
 If Dr. Fracker is unfamiliar with conditions on Kodiak Island he could cnlighten himself by reading the literature of his own depart ment. Nearly 40 years ago another Department of Agriculture scien- tist, the late pr. c. c. Georgeson, wrote:
 "The great brute which domin- ates animal fife on Kodiak and other islands, as well as the ad- joining mainland, had proved him. self to be a menace to advancing civilization. While the bear is an interesting animal, not only zoolog- ically, but in that he affords good sport for hunters, and while the particular species inhabiting this region of Alaska is of especial in- terest because of his great size and power, and because he is prob ably the largest bear on earth, it is also a fact that if this region is to be settled by farmers and in- troducers of live stock the area in- habited by the bear should be cir cumscribed. Cattle, sheep and bear cannot live peacefully together"
 Conditions on Kodiak Island and other infested areas have not greatly changed in 40 years. As a matter of fact bears of nearly all species have probably increased. A recent publication gives the num- Der of brown bears in the coastal area of Alaska as $500, with 10000 brown and grizley bears in the h. terior and 75,000 black bears in the whole country
 These are nice round figures and if they are anywhere near accur- ate they show that there are al- most as many bears as people in Alaska.
 There was a time when bear hides were an article of commerce and the hunters and trappers kept the animals somewhat thinned down.
 Records of the old Russian Am erican Company show that it pur- chased 1907 bear belts at Kodiak alone between 1842 and 1860, while its purchases in all of Alaska dur ing the same period totaled 2,244. And during the first 13 years of the American occupation the traders recorded the purchase of 8,O57 bear hides. No doubt many pur- chases were not recorded.
 Back in the 1890's a brown bear pelt was worth around $20 and a black about $50. Since mink were then quoted at a dollar a belt, there was real incentive for bear hunting.
 In late years, what with closed seasons and bag limits and the sale of bear belts prohibited, the annual kill has been reduced.
 Although the bear controversy may go on for a long time. there lttle doubt that ultimately the bear will have to go, at least in parts of Alaska where man wishes to settle, just as the buffalo of the Great Plains had to go to make way for the wheat farms and cattle ranches of today.