IN THE ALASKA- YUKON GAMELANDS 



fence constructed of spruce saplings tied to the 

 trees of the forest with bark and willow thongs. 

 We were told that this fence — probably four or 

 five feet high, of two or three stringers — was 

 built by the Indians and used by them and others 

 to corral the caribou on their migrating trips, 

 then to slaughter them for their meat and hides. 

 How true this is we had no absolute means of 

 knowing, but of one thing we felt certain — the 

 fence was built by Indians, as it bore all the ear- 

 marks of their work. It was old and broken 

 down in many places, probably having been 

 built twenty years or more ago. 



During the Klondike rush the market hunting 

 of caribou around Dawson was carried on very 

 extensively. As many as sixty-four horses, 

 some twenty-odd years ago, each drawing a set 

 of three double-ender sleighs, each sleigh loaded 

 with four caribou, have been seen on the water- 

 shed between the Yukon and McKenzie rivers 

 (headwaters of Klondike river), carrying the 

 carcasses to Dawson. This would make 768 

 caribou to a train. These caribou were sold to 

 miners and prospectors on the creeks around 

 Dawson, and in Dawson, at 20 to 25 cents a 

 pound. The tongues were preserved and sent 

 out of the country. Beef sold then for $1.25 a 

 pound. 



About September each year the annual migra- 

 tion of caribou occurs. At that time they leave 

 their summer home in the tundra-covered 



132 



