ALASKA FISHEEIES AND FUE INDUSIKILS, 1011. 23 



During the early autumn, before the complete freezing over of the 

 waters or the fall of snow, many species of fur-bearing animals may be 

 taken with ease and in abundance that later either migrate to other 

 sections or house up in dens in such manner as to render their capture 

 impossible or much more difficult. At this season none of the fur is 

 prime, but the conditions for pleasurable pursuit are tempting. The 

 "running" of a 10-mile line of traps in midwinter with the thermom- 

 eter registering 25° to 50° below zero is not to the taste of a people 

 who regard natural products as a gift of the supernatural for their 

 especial use. 



The usual method of preventing the waste incident to killing fur 

 anunals when the fur is not prime is the establishment of close seasons. 

 In a region of limited extent and not greatly diversified this is quite 

 effective. Alaska, however, comprises territory of a wide range in 

 latitude and natural conditions. 



Many of the species have a very wide range throughout Alaska, 

 and, on account of the very diverse climatic conditions, the fur does 

 not become prime in the fall or unprime in the spring on the same 

 dates throughout all Alaska. For exam.ple, the fur of the muskrat 

 in southeast Alaska may become unprmie as early as the first or middle 

 of May, while on the Yukon and in the extreme northern portion of 

 its range it may remain prime several weeks longer. The same is 

 probabl}^ true of foxes and other species. 



And agam, it may be found in some cases that proper protection 

 durmg the breeding season will demand a close season to cover it 

 even if it includes a part of that season in which the fur is prime. 

 To determine the proper time and extent of close seasons which will 

 prove most elTective in the protection of fur-bearing animals, con- 

 sideration must be given to the following requirements: In the first 

 place, the close season must be such as 'svill protect the animals during 

 the entire period when their fur is unprime. It shows poor business 

 sense on the part of the hunter or trapper to kill any animal whose 

 fur is not prime; it is equally poor business sense for traders to buy 

 unprime skhis. In the second place, an anmial should not be killed 

 when its death would cause the starvation or death of the young 

 which are dependent upon it. This contributes at once to the 

 destructinn of the species and, sooner or later, to the financial loss of 

 both the hunter and the trader. In the third place, an anunal should 

 not be killed at any time if the species is seriously depleted or in 

 danger of commercial extermination. 



Stating the question somewhat different^, the taking of fur-bearing 

 animals should be permitted only (1) when their fur is prime, (2) 

 when their death does not work harm to the young, and (3) when the 

 species is so abundant as to need no prolonged close period. 

 9275°— 13 21 



