4 BIG GAME SHOOTING IN ALASKA chap, i 



idly about, sitting on the counters, usually whittling bits of 

 wood with their knives to kill time, and probably discussing 

 the rights or wrongs of the American people with the 

 assistance of a few newspapers some four or five weeks old. 

 Most of them are chewing gum, or some villainous form of 

 plug - tobacco, and from time to time make marvellously 

 accurate long-range shots at the spittoon, too often situated 

 in dangerous proximity to the feet of some other member 

 of the party. The newcomer's first impression will very 

 likely be that he has encountered some of the local 

 unemployed ; but no greater error could be made, as these 

 men are really the type of the Alaskan prospector, and a few 

 chance questions on the possibilities of the district in the 

 mining line will probably at once bring to light various 

 specimens of quartz, etc., hidden away in the depths of each 

 man's trouser-pockets. This exhibition is accompanied by 

 a little advice given gratis as to the most infallible method 

 of getting rich quickly. Some of these men may have 

 already made comfortable little fortunes, and lost them again, 

 in some of the great gold rushes ranging between California 

 and Nome ; but, no matter what their age or present posi- 

 tion, there always looms in front of them the fascinating 

 picture of a big strike to be made some day. Alas, for the 

 majority of them this is always to-morrow, and never to-day ! 

 Passing on to the salmon fisheries, whole pages might be 

 directed to the description of this wonderful industry. It is 

 no exaggeration to say that the number of fish in certain 

 rivers defies description ; and the wildest stories ever told 

 on the subject scarcely exceed the actual facts. Indeed, this 

 is almost the only point on which I have never heard an 

 Alaskan exaggerate, and the Alaskans are people who take 

 a good deal of beating at drawing the long-bow. It must. 



