Ill THE GAME LAWS OF ALASKA 41 



be returned to the port of shipment or to the Collector of Customs at 

 Sitka (at the expense of the vessel bringing the same), for disposition in 

 accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act. 



12. Transportation in Close Season 



Vessels plying in Alaskan waters must not receive for transportation out 

 of Alaska, or for consumption on the voyage, any carcasses of game animals 

 or birds during the close season. Owners and masters of vessels are 

 enjoined to insist upon a strict compliance with this and all other regulations 

 governing shipment. 



All special rulings of the Department in conflict with these regulations 

 are hereby revoked. James Wilson, Secretary. 



Since going to press I have received the following 

 amendments to the game laws, which have been forwarded 

 to me from Washington. 



The primary object of the Alaska game law is the preservation of game 

 for the use of the people of Alaska, native and white. This is accomplished 

 chiefly by stopping the export of deer-hides and by restricting the killing and 

 shipment of big game as trophies. Prior to the enactment of the law 

 thousands of deer were slaughtered each year for their hides, and these 

 hides were shipped out of the Territory. This export has now practically 

 ceased. 



There seems to have been some misunderstanding respecting certain 

 privileges conferred by the law. Attention therefore is again called to the 

 provision in Section i which allows Indians, Eskimo, miners, or explorers in 

 need of food or clothing to kill game for their immediate use. Attention is 

 also called to the fact that the clause in Section 5, prohibiting shipment of 

 hides and heads, does not apply to bears, hence the skins of large brown 

 bears and bears of all kinds may be shipped from any point in Alaska 

 without the formality of a permit ; and in view of a widespread feeling that 

 the protection afforded bears is unnecessary, the open season is here 

 materially extended. Certain other changes in open seasons which experi- 

 ence has shown may be made without injury to the game will be found in 

 Regulation 2. 



During the past session of Congress a bill was introduced making radical 

 changes in the law and in the system of issuing permits. As this bill is still 

 pending and will doubtless receive attention at the next session, the issue of 



