FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 55 



ing only the belt of barren-coast country bordering the Arctic Ocean 

 from Point Hope north and east to the Canadian line. It is also 

 found on a few of the islands in southeast Alaska, and generally 

 in the lakes and streams of the interior, avoiding the large rivers, 

 owing to the great change in level likely to occur at different sea- 

 sons. During the last three years a considerable proportion of 

 the supply has come from the Kuskokwim and Yukon Valleys. The 

 natives catch beavers in steel traps set at a frequented spot or shoot 

 them from a concealed place near the beaver house or dam. 



Castoreum, an oily odorous compound secreted by the preputial 

 glands of the animal, also the dried preputial follicles and their con- 

 tents, are sometimes prepared and find a sale in China, where they 

 occupy a place in the pharmacopoeia. 



In 1905, 1,935 skins; in 1906, 1,536; 1907, 1,159; 1908, 1,280; 

 1909, 2,323, and in 1910, 2,002 skins were secured. 



MUSKRAT. 



This animal is found on the mainland, except along the extreme 

 northern coast line, wherever bogs and ponds or running water occur; 

 it is also found upon Nunivak and St. Michaels Islands. The Kus- 

 kokwim and Yukon Valleys, especially the former, furnish the vast 

 majority of the output. The natives also use a large number each 

 year for clothing and in barter with other native tribes. The value 

 of muskrat has been steadily increasing during the last three years 

 and as a result the animal has been hunted more vigorously each 

 season. In 1905, 12,599 skins, valued at SI, 192; in 1906, 3,611 skins, 

 valued at $302; in 1907, 6,481 skins, valued at $498; in 1908, 31,712 

 skins, valued at $6,257; in 1909, 121,568 skins, valued at $34,074, 

 while in 1910, 223,893 skins, valued at $75,248, were secured and 

 shipped from the district. This takes no account of the local trade 

 in skins between the different tribes. 



LAND OTTER. 



This species is widely distributed in Alaska, being found on nearly 

 every part of the mainland. It also occurs on many of the islands. 

 A steel trap is generally used in capturing the animals. The supply 

 of land otter skins is fairly constant from year to year. 



SEA OTTER. 



But two vessels, the schooner Everett Hays, owned by Mr. Samuel 

 Applegate, of Unalaska, and the schooner Elvira (formerly the Japan- 

 ese sealing schooner Kinsei Maru) , owned by Mr. Fred Schroeder of 

 Dutch Harbor, fitted out for sea-otter hunting in 1910. The hunting 

 is generally carried on between Chirikof and Tugidak Islands (the 



