120 FISHERY AND FUR INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA IN 1912. 



tree. Large no. 3 traps are used, 3 or 4 being placed indifferently 

 around the base of the tree. In trying to reach the bunch of rabbits 

 the lynx is sure to step in one of the traps. When caught the lynx 

 does not make violent efforts to escape as do most fur-bearing 

 animals, but lies quietly down until approached, when it will, instead 

 of trying to escape, spring savagely at the visitor. Another favorite 

 method of capturing the lynx is by snaring. Extra strong picture 

 wire is used and the snare is adjusted at the base of a small tree 

 where bait has been placed over a rabbit trail. 



The total number of lynx skins shipped from Alaska in 1911-12 

 was 2,720. The principal shipping points were Tanana, St. Michael, 

 Nome, Fort Yukon, Bettles, and Fairbanks. 



WOLF (tENA INDIAN NAME, "yES" OR "TIKONA"). 



Wolves are not common in the Yukon-Tanana valley, though they 

 are sometimes seen southward toward the Alaska range and west- 

 ward toward the Bering coast. In southeast Alaska they are said to 

 be abundant and very destructive to deer, and, while reports regard- 

 ing their ravages and the menace to human life have doubtless been 

 greatly exaggerated, the department has recognized this situation as 

 justifying the withdrawal of protection to wolves, and on April 2, 

 1912, a bill (H. R. 22775, 62d Cong., 2d sess.) providing a bounty 

 upon them was introduced in the house by Mr. Sulzer. 



No action was taken on this bill, but it is hoped that legislation of 

 this character may be secured at an early date. 



The total number of wolfskins shipped from Alaska in 1911-12 was 

 only 103. The majority of these came from Nome, Ketchikan, and 

 Wrangell. Doubtless many of those shipped from Nome had been 

 brought over from Siberia. 



On the lower Yukon wolfskins are in demand by the natives, from 

 which to make trimmings for parkas and for robes. 



RED SQUIRREL. 



Red squirrels are very abundant in practically all the forested 

 parts of Alaska. They were observed to be exceedingly abundant in 

 the spruce forests along the Fairbanks trail. They are also very 

 numerous in all the forests about Cook Inlet and Prince William 

 Sound. In the vast burnt-over areas in central or interior Alaska 

 few or none may be seen, but as soon as trees occur there the squirrels 

 are to be found. They are very tame and will eat their spruce cones 

 within a few feet of the hunter, keeping up a constant chattering or 

 scolding the while. 



The quantity of spruce cones they will consume is surprising. 

 At the base of a tree in which a red squirrel has its nest there may 

 frequently be seen a pile of husked cones a foot or two high and 5 or 



