MINOR FUR INDUSTRIES. Ill 



KUSKOKWIM DISTRICT. 



About the headwaters of the Kuskokwim is a good marten 

 country, and the anunals taken there are of superior color. About 

 the lakes and along the small streams and sloughs mink are found in 

 some numbers. Otter are found in the same situations and about 

 larger streams also. Black bear are quite numerous. Muskrats are 

 common about the sloughs and other quiet waters. On the small 

 streams and creeks beaver are abundant. Lynx and red foxes are 

 occasionally taken, while wolverine and wolves occur along the 

 Alaska Kange. These conditions hold down the Kuskokwim as far 

 as Georgetown. Below that point marten are rare, but mink, otter, 

 and muskrat continue. When the tundra is reached the conditions 

 have entirely changed. At Bethel the principal fur animals are the 

 mink (the coast species different from the one found at the head- 

 waters and less valuable), muskrat, and otter, the last quite rare. 

 The Arctic hare is usually abundant and of some commercial value. 

 The white fox is found principally on the islands off the coast. 



Trapping in this region is done almost entirely by the natives. As 

 a rule the sentiment of trappers and traders is favorable to the pro- 

 tection of the fur animals and the regulations are well observed. 

 Numerous complaints were heard that the Indians kill mink, musk- 

 rat, and beaver out of season, but this practice is becoming less 

 prevalent. 



Competition among traders has been so keen that some have been 

 induced to buy considerable numbers of unprime skins. They prefer, 

 however, not to handle such skins, and many are now refusing to do 

 so. The fur regulations are, in the main, applicable to this district 

 and satisfactory to trappers and traders. Some think the open season 

 for marten should begin November 1, two weeks earlier. Although 

 the pelt may be prime by that date the fur is short and the skin has 

 not yet reached its full value. 



It was felt that the open season for the muskrat should be extended 

 to June 1, and this has been done. This is desirable because muskrats 

 are usually taken by shooting them in the water and that can not be 

 done until after the ice goes out, which does not occur until the first 

 or second week in May. 



The black bear is so destructive to caches that no one thinks it 

 should receive any protection. 



Forest fires which occur often in this region are very destructive to 

 fur and game animals, driving away those that are not killed. A 

 burnt-over region reforests very slowly, and the fur and game animals 

 are even slower to return. 

 6711°— 13 8 



