SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 361 



he has not as yet gone nor is likely to go until the inducement is some- 

 thing of far more value than wild-fowl eggs. 



DESTRUCTION OF DEER. 



The destruction of deer in southeastern Alaska and in all the tim- 

 bered portion of the Territory from Cape Fox to Port Moller, a distance 

 of, say, l.LMM) to l.">00 miles, is carried to such excess that it would 

 hardly be credited in a civilized community. 



1 saw bales of the dried deerskins at many of the trading posts await- 

 ing shipment, and when 1 asked what use had been made of the carcasses, 

 1 was told the deer were shot for their hides only. 



I was informed by many men officers and citizens that, as the 

 weather became warmer in the early spring, the smell from decaying 

 deer carcasses became horiibly offensive around the towns and villages* 

 White men go out and kill the animals for fun. just to see who can 

 knock down most in a given time. The natives kill them, because they 

 can get a drink of whisky, valued at U5 cents, for every skin secured. 



That such things have been allowed to continue at any time is to be 

 deeply regretted; but that it is still allowed to continue after the 

 natives on the seal islands have become a burden on the Government, 

 and other tribes to the northward soon will be because of the wanton 

 waste of their natural food supply on land and water, passes the com- 

 prehension of every sensible citizen who understands the present 

 situation. 



To the northward we are endeavoring to procure and foster the rein- 

 deer for a future food supply for the natives of that barren region, and 

 it is a very laudable enterprise; but at the same time we allow the 

 continued wanton destruction of the deer that covers the whole tim- 

 bered part of Alaska an empire as large as Texas. In the winter, 

 when the snow is deepest and the animals can not make a way through 

 the dense undergrowth beneath the timber, the so-called sportsmen as- 

 semble, and with dogs drive them out on the seashore, whose beaches 

 are kept clean by the tides, where riflemen are ready, stationed in boats 

 offshore, to begin the manly sport of shooting down helpless creatures, 

 who can neither resist nor escape. 



The following letter from an eyewitness explains itself: 



STEAMER ALBATROSS, Unalaska, August 28, 1895. 



MY DEAR SIR: I have not been able to unearth the notes I had on deer killing in 

 Alaska. Krieily, their slaughter has been very great. During the winter of 1894 deer 

 were killed and wasted in southeastern Alaska. Snow was unusually deep and the deer 

 were forced to the beaches, which were left clear by the tides. Shooting was done 

 from boats and canoes by both whites and Indians. I know of three Indians killing. 

 175 deer from canoes in two days. Many whites shot for hides alone, and at many 

 places hides could be bought for 35 cents each. I do not think that Indians should 

 be prevented from shooting all kinds of game for their own needs, but killing for 

 hides alone is certainly reprehensible, and if the rate of slaughter that has been 

 going on for the past few years is continued, there will be very few deer left. 



As the hides are of comparatively little value, their exportation might be stopped 

 without causing an v serious hardship to anyone, and of course when the hides become 

 unsalable, the Indians will not kill many more than they need. 



I have never heard of any destruction of birds or birds' eggs and can not imagine 

 how there could be any remarkable waste of that nature, although I am familiar 

 with the natural history of a considerable portion of the Territory. 

 Very truly, yours, 



C. H. TOWNSEND. 



Col. JOSEPH MURRAY. 



