The Condition of Wild Life in Alaska 



permanent interest in the country in the sense that 

 farmers are attached to the soil. The stable ele^ 

 ments of the population are chiefly the keepers of 

 local saloons or road houses. Miners are accus- 

 tomed to live off the country, with little care for its 

 future. It would be extreme folly to entrust to 

 such a population the formulation and enforcement 

 of complicated game laws, which require a thor- 

 ough knowledge of the habits of the animals. 



The Alaskans have certainly no right to com- 

 plain of the present laws, which permit any game 

 animal or game bird to be killed by natives at any 

 time for food or clothing, and by miners or ex- 

 plorers at any time when in need of food. Pros- 

 pectors, wandering about the country, should of 

 course be allowed to kill what they require for their 

 daily needs, but it is not easy to see why miners, or 

 men working in an established mining camp, should 

 be allowed to kill wild game during the close sea- 

 son, while those engaged in building railroads, or 

 operating them, or keeping saloons, are forbidden 

 the privilege. 



The jealous consideration of our legislators for 

 the poor Indian and for the honest miner has gone 

 too far, and the only effective remedy is game 

 refuges. These are slowly increasing in number, 

 and several additions have recently been made 



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