ENROUTE TO THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



Chitina (population about ioo, and lying 132 

 miles from Cordova) was reached about 6 o'clock 

 p. m. Here we remained over night. From this 

 point the automobile stage runs to Fairbanks — a 

 three days' trip, and the only means of reaching 

 Fairbanks from this direction. Malamute and 

 husky sled dogs v/ere in evidence here, and the 

 cool mountain air and other signs gave the place 

 a decidedly Alaskan atmosphere. 



I believe it was at the station preceding Chi- 

 tina on our route that we all had a good opportu- 

 nity of testing and comparing our binoculars, 

 while the train was being held up. Mr. Corcoran 

 had a $200 pair of glasses that we all admired 

 very much, while Mr. James and William carried 

 splendid glasses. One of the guides also had 

 glasses, in addition, of course, to the Alpine bi- 

 noculars that I carried. We spent an hour there 

 of very close study of the different makes that 

 were found in our party, each one of us trying out 

 all the others. I have always felt very well satis- 

 fied with my present binoculars, which I have 

 used for over twelve years, but when I heard the 

 other members of our party comment on them I 

 felt better than I ever had before about them. 

 The general verdict of all was that they were 

 more satisfactory for game hunting than any 

 of the others — due to the ease of manipulation 

 and the clearness and size of the field. I have in 

 later years used an 8-power glass. I should never 

 go higher than this in power. 



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