450 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



gating purposes. All possible encouragement is given responsible 

 parties who have favorable locations to engage in this new en- 

 terprise. 



One handicap to the development of the fur-farming industry in 

 Alaska is the lack of authority in any governmental agency to lease 

 the numerous islands which are suitable for the purpose but which 

 are located outside the national forests and the Aleutian Islands 

 Reservation. 



PROTECTION OF ALASKAN GAME. 



The Alaska game law is administered by the Governor of Alaska 

 under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture, 

 Migratory birds in the Territory are protected under the provisions 

 of the migratory-bird treaty act. 



The most important change in the regulations during the year in 

 regard to game in Alaska was the elimination of specific protection 

 of deer on Duke, Gravina, San Juan, Suemez, Zarembo, Hawkins, 

 Hinchinbrook. Montague, Long, and Kodiak Islands. Kruzof 

 Island, near Sitka, alone in southeastern Alaska, remains a deer 

 preserve. It is forbidden, however, to kill deer anywhere west of 

 longitude 141°, thus giving this game protection on all islands in 

 that region. 



DESTRUCTION OF WOLVES IN ALASKA. 



For some years requests have come from citizens of Alaska that 

 efforts be made to destroy wolves, which have been enormously de- 

 structive to deer on the coastal islands of southeastern Alaska 

 Local residents had made efforts for a long period to destroy wolves 

 in that region, and the impression was general that, because of un- 

 usual topographic and climatic conditions, these animals could not 

 be successfully destroyed. Our representative working in Michigan 

 was detailed to Alaska for two months, where he demonstrated 

 beyond question that it was not only feasible to trap and poison 

 the wolves successfully on the Alaskan islands, but that it would not 

 be a very difficult matter to exterminate them on most, if not all, of 

 the islands. Thirty large timber wolves were taken by traps or 

 poison, and no doubt, as is usually the case, numerous others killed 

 by poison were not found. The results were so promising that this 

 work will be continued. Destruction of the wolves will be extremely 

 helpful in increasing the numbers of the deer, which are so impor- 

 tant a factor as a part of the food supply of the Indians and other 

 residents of that region. 



GAME AND BIRD REFUGES. 



The continual increase in the number of hunters and the decrease 

 of various species of game are producing a healthy reaction among 

 sportsmen and others interested, causing the establishment of State 

 game refuges. The number of such refuges in a list compiled by the 

 Biological Survey in 1922 was 423, of w^hich 346 contained a total 

 of more than 19,*331,000 acres. To these, early in 1923, the legisla- 

 tures of 12 States added 38, with a total of 3.000,000 acres. Among 

 those of notable interest are several refuges made in Nevada, mainly 

 for the benefit of antelope. 



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