48 BIG GAME SHOOTING IN ALASKA chap. 



one, which my friend Glyn purchased for curiosity, did not 

 measure 9 feet in length when we put the tape over it. 



The only two authentic measurements which I can vouch 

 for as regards the actual length of these big bears are the 

 following, and when we consider that Mr. A. J. Stone and 

 his party killed 10 bears, and our party accounted for 12, 

 all killed on the Alaska Peninsula, where the bears are 

 admitted to be the largest in Alaska, the two best specimens 

 from a total of 22 thus obtained should give a fair idea of the 

 size of these animals. 



Mr. Stone's largest bear measured from nose to tail in 

 a straight line 7 feet 5 inches. 



My largest one measured in the same way was 7 feet 

 9^ inches. 



On comparison of the skulls of these two bears, mine 

 was found to be the larger, and as both our measurements 

 were carefully taken with assistance and in the presence of 

 witnesses, they are probably as nearly correct as possible. 



The exact measurements and weight of my big bear are 

 given elsewhere. The measurements were taken not over 

 the skin, but on the stripped carcass after it had been skinned, 

 and the weighing was done two days after it was killed. No 

 allowance was made for weight lost, except 40 lbs. for entrails 

 taken out the first day by my natives to make cameleekas. 

 Had this bear been killed earlier or later in the season he 

 would probably have carried an extra 150 lbs. of fat at least, 

 but at that time of year, late in June, the bears are generally 

 thin, as this one was. 



There is now to be seen in the National Zoological Park 

 at Washington a very fine specimen of an Alaskan brown 

 bear. I spent a long time in the park one day carefully 

 examining all the bears, and, through the courtesy of one of 



