:i^-^7\^ 



THE GULF REGION 



The Alaska Range cuts across the 

 Territory in a huge arc, and the 

 land below this arc is known as the 

 Gulf Region. Drained by the Cop- 

 per and Susitna Rivers, it includes 

 the base of the Alaska Peninsula, 

 the Kenai Peninsula, and Kodiak 

 Island. It is the most important 

 game region in the Territory. 

 Average January temperatures 

 range from about 26° F. at Kodiak, 

 Kodiak Island, to about -22° F. at 

 Copper Center on the Copper River, 

 on the mainland. It has been much 

 colder in both places — absolute 

 minimum for January is 74 degrees 

 below zero at Copper Center and 9 

 degrees below zero at Kodiak. 

 Most of the precipitation is in the 

 late fall and early summer, and the 

 average is about 35 inches. Here 

 the northern limits of Sitka spruce 

 and hemlock are reached, and the 

 black and white spruces and the 

 birches of the Interior make an ap- 

 pearance. The western end of the 

 Alaska Peninsula is treeless. 



Moose, caribou, Dall sheep, moun- 

 tain goats, and black, brown, and 

 grizzly bears are the principal big- 



game animals of the region. There 

 are some transplanted elk on 

 Afognak Island and deer along the 

 coast. Among the smaller animals 

 are ground squirrels, marmots, por- 

 cupines, the Arctic shrew, lem- 

 mings, and the varying hare. Up- 

 land game birds include grouse and 

 willow ptarmigan, and there are 

 migratory waterfowl such as green- 

 winged teal, Canada geese and 

 white-fronted geese, and harlequin, 

 pintail, and mallard ducks. Song 

 birds include the slate-colored 

 junco, the blackpolled warbler, and 

 the robin. In coastal waters are the 

 Pacific harbor seal, the northern sea 

 lion, and many whales, including 

 the small Beluga or white whale 

 which frequents Bristol Bay and 

 Cook Inlet. Streams contain trout, 

 salmon, and grayling. 





DOLLY VARDEN 



211050 0—53- 



