POPULATION AND AVAILABLE MARKETS. 25 



lias given similar results. It is not probable, however, that animals 

 will remain fat on such feeds alone. 



Nothing has been clone np to the present time in the way of intro- 

 ducing breeds that are likely to be especially adapted to the peculiar 

 conditions. It is highly probable, as has been pointed out by Pro- 

 fessor Georgeson, that long-haired hardy breeds like the Galloway 

 or the West Highland cattle will prove much more successful than 

 breeds adapted primarily to a drier and warmer climate. 



POPULATION AND AVAILABLE aiARKETS. 



No very accurate data are available as to the present population of 

 the Alaska coast towns and villages, Avhich furnish the only markets 

 close to the grass lands. The population of the principal towns 

 along the coast is approximately as follows: Sitka, 1,500; Valdez, 

 1,000; Seward, 500; Kadiak, 50; Unalaska and Dutch Harbor, 

 600. The total population from Valdez to Unalaska, inclusive, is 

 about 8,000, of whom less than one-half are whites. From Valdez 

 to Sitka, excluding the former, the population is perhaps 4,000, about 

 half of them white. Thus the coast of Alaska from Sitka to Una- 

 laska provides a market population at present of not more than 

 (),000 people, as no nuirket for meat or dairy products can be expected 

 so far as the natives are concerned. 



No account is here taken of the towns lying along the interior 

 channels in southeastern Alaska, whose populations aggregate per- 

 haps 8,000 whites, though a portion of this market could perhaps be 

 reached. 



Skagway and Valdez are the principal south Alaskan points which 

 supply the interior, and consequently are of especial importance in 

 considering markets. 



A considerable market for 1)eef and dairy products could perhaps 

 be established by shipping from Unalaska to the population of the 

 Nome district and the lower Yukon. Unalaska is on the line of 

 transportation from Puget Sound to Nome and the Yukon River, 

 though at present few of the vessels stop there. 



Thus the present available markets in Alaska for live-stock 

 l)roducts are very limited. The supply for these markets at the 

 present time is shipped from Puget Sound. 



It is evident, however, that it is possible to raise in Alaska far more 

 produce of this kind than the local markets can consume. The only 

 other markets that can possibly be reached are those furnished by the 

 cities of British Columbia and of the State of Washington. Fn-ight 

 rates are at present, and perhai)s will be for some time to come, such 

 that dairy products and wool are the only articles that could profit- 

 ably be shipped to such distant i)orts. 



