24 GRASS LANDS OF TPIE SOUTH ALASKA COAST. 



gathered concerning the amount and character of the milk yield, but 

 it was universally said that the milk is most excellent in summer, and 

 good in winter Avhen the animals are properly fed. It is unfortunate 

 that no accurate records could be obtained as to the winter yield of 

 cows fed only on native hay or silage. 



Several herds of beef cattle have been successfully maintained in 

 the neighborhood of Kadiak. The experience of the Alaska Com- 

 mercial Company is thus sunnnarized by Mr. Washburn, the former 

 superintendent at Kadiak : 



We b;ive bred stock on the islands of Kadiak, Ukaniak, and on Long Island. 

 On Long Island we have about 40 bead of cattle. Tbese cattle are fed from two 

 to six weeks each winter. The remainder of the time they have been able to 

 get their own subsistence. During oeeasional winters we have carried our stock 

 through with no feeding. We have had very good increase from them, and 

 should say that the percentage of calves raised from the breeding cows is about 

 75. The cattle on this island have not been housed except during the short 

 period when we were obliged to feed them' 



On Ukamak Island we have a herd of about 20 head, which are entirely self- 

 sustaining. We have not found it necessary either to feed or shelter these cat- 

 tle during the winter season, and the increase has been fully as good as that of 

 the herd on Long Island. 



On Kadiak Island we have not kei)t any stock cattle, but only a herd of dairy 

 cows and some working horses. These we have, of course, fed regularly during 

 the winter season for about five months. We are able to cure sufHcient hay on a 

 lot we have leveled, and we have used the only mowing machine in western 

 Alaska. We have obtained very good results from feeding the Alaska hay to 

 both cows and horses, and find that they require no more grain when fed this 

 hay than when we feed hay imported from California. 



The P'rye-Bruhn Company, of Seattle, began operations near 

 Kadiak in July, 1903, importing about 200 head of beef cattle, mostly 

 Herefords. Owing to unpreparedness and inexperience, about 140 

 head of this number were lost during the first year. Most of these 

 were killed by falling over cliffs. Owing to the fact that the earliest 

 grass appears on the steep southerly slopes, the cattle crowded in such 

 places ; in some instances the sod, loosened by the frost, gave way and 

 precipitated them over the cliffs. In other cases the cattle used their 

 horns when crowded, the Avounded ones losing their foothold in 

 endeavoring to escape. As-precautions. more care is taken in select- 

 ing the early feeding grounds and the cattle have been dehorned. 



The common experience of cattle owners in Alaska has been that 

 the animals fatten readily on the grass in the spring, and remain 

 in good condition without care until late in the- autumn. Some 

 Herefords slaughtered at Kadiak in July furnished beef of remark- 

 ably fine quality. 



From the experience had at the Kenai Experiment Station, oxen 

 keep in good working condition all winter on no other feed than 

 native grass hay and silage, and the limited experience of others 



