INTO THE KENAI 211 



in area. This process of congestion led game wardens 

 and guides, who noted the increased number of moose 

 in the locality, to conclude that the stock was increasing 

 in number. But unfortunately there was hardly any 

 other reason to think that this was the case, and unless 

 protective measures were to be taken we regarded it as 

 reasonably certain that the noble moose would be exter- 

 minated from this part of Alaska. Fortunately two con- 

 victions for poaching were obtained during the summer 

 that we were in the country, but the general sentiment 

 of the community was not favorable to the preservation of 

 the game, and serious offences generally went unpunished. 

 Taking advantage of the malicious clause in the Alaskan 

 game law, that natives, explorers, prospectors could kill at 

 any time when in need of food, any resident of Alaska 

 felt entitled to the privilege of shooting whether in need of 

 meat or not. This was so generally understood as hardly 

 to raise a laugh when joked upon. 



While also the sheep had been driven back to more 

 remote mountains than those on which they used to live, 

 there was not so much danger of them beiug soon exter- 

 minated. For if much hunted, the sheep soon become 

 wary and extremely skilful at escaping. Our first designs 

 were directed against these beautiful creatures. 



We had not sat so long upon the dike as the foregoing 

 comments upon the moose might lead the reader to believe, 

 for the cold wind still blew and after a few moments' 

 rest we moved on. ''We'll go down here," said Bill, 

 stepping to the edge of the dike, and in truth we did go 

 down a steep, shppery trail for about a thousand yards, 

 and then were obliged actually to slide down the side of a 

 particularly abrupt hill. Four moose watched us do so. 

 This led us into a gully between the high mountains on the 



