American Big Game in its Haunts 



are followed to their very dens in the fall by the 

 keenest of hunters, and their only restful sleep is 

 the long winter one. Fortunately some excellent 

 game laws for Alaska have been passed, and by 

 making a close season for several years, followed 

 by severe restrictions, we may yet hope that the 

 perpetual preservation of this grand brown bear 

 will be assured on the Kadiak group, which, from 

 its situation, fitly offers him, when well guarded, 

 his best chance of making a successful stand against 

 his enemies. 



The fact that the natives make a profit from the 

 bear skins, and that his flesh furnishes them with 

 food is not to be considered, as at the present rate 

 of extermination there will soon be no bear left for 

 discussion. 



The natives certainly could and should be helped 

 out in their living, as competition in the fur trade 

 of late has so exterminated fur-bearing animals 

 that hunting and trapping bring them in little, and 

 their diet is indeed low. One of my hunters during 

 last fall only secured one bear, one silver gray fox, 

 and two land otter. 



A good way to help out the food question, and 

 compensate the native for his loss of bear meat, 

 would be to transport a goodly number of Sitka 

 deer to the three islands, and allow them to multi- 



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