American Big Game in its Haunts 



We found bear tracks coming into the valley, 

 down one mountain side, and leading out over the 

 opposite mountain, and were obliged to return to 

 Wood Island empty handed. 



Merriam now decided to return home on the 

 next boat, and after a few days I started off for the 

 north side of Kadiak in an otter boat fitted with 

 sail, picking up on the way a white man. Jack 

 Robinson, and a native hunter, Vacille, at Ozinka, 

 a small village on Spruce Island. My men proved 

 a good combination, but we were all obliged to 

 work hard for two months before a bear was finally 

 secured. 



We tried bay after bay, and were often held up, 

 and for days at a time kept from good grounds by 

 stormy weather and bad winds. The inability to 

 do anything for long periods made these months 

 the most wearing I have ever passed. Our little 

 open boat went well only before the wind, but, as 

 somebody has said, the prevailing winds in Alaska 

 are head winds, and we spent many long hours at 

 the oars. 



Although we had a good tent with us, we used, 

 for the most part, the native hunting barabara for 

 shelter. These are fairly clean and comfortable, 

 and are found In every bay of any size. 



The natives inherit their hunting grounds, and 

 2S8 



