BULLETIN NUMBER SIX 19 



The Chairman. — I want to ask what is the effect of the conditions 

 that are now prevailing- there, so far as the number of game animals 

 is concerned. Are they increasing or decreasing? 



Mr. Riggs. — From what I can learn or judge, they are increasing 

 somewhat. 



Mr. Riggs. — The people of the interior are in bad shape. 



Mr. Johnson. — That may be. But if they are, they do not need a 

 license or anything else to go and get meat. 



Mr. Riggs. — But the workmen can not go out and shoot meat. 



Mr. Johnson. — Is there much meat used in the construction of 

 the Alaskan Railway north of 62? 



Mr. Riggs. — Yes; we use game. I think that last year we used 

 6,000 pounds. 



Mr. Johnson. — Do you remember what you paid for it? 



Mr. Riggs. — We paid from 15 to 25 cents a pound. 



Mr. Riggs. — The market hunter is a game hog. He kills all the 

 game that he can, and peddles it around under cover. 



Mr. Dowell. — Now, how many companies operating there are in 

 the meat business, or are engaged in the buying and selling of this 

 wild game? 



Mr. Riggs. — Four or five, probably. 



Mr. Johnson. — In all the country? 



Mr. Riggs. — No sir; in interior Alaska. That might be considered 

 along the Tanana River and its tributaries, and the lower Yukon. 

 For the purpose of game, you might say it is along the Tanana River, 

 because there is not much game except caribou lower down. 



Mr. Dowell. — Is there any stable price for the purchase of this 

 meat from those who bring it in? 



Mr. Riggs. — No, sir. 



Mr. Dowell. — Do they know generally what they are to receive 

 for it? 



Mr. Riggs. — Yes, sir. They try to buy it for 15 cents per pound, 

 and if the prospector will not sell it for that, it depends on how badly 

 they want it whether they will pay more. 



Mr. Dowell. — You referred to what you termed the game hog. 

 How extensively is he operating there? 



Mr. Riggs. — Well, we never have been able to find out exactly, 

 because his work is under cover. There was an instance that came 

 to my attention not long ago when a man brought in 26 hindquarters 

 of sheep. The supposition is that he fed the rest of those sheep to 

 his dogs, or threw them away as waste. He was promptly arrested 

 and fined, and his meat confiscated. 



Twenty-six hindquarters mean 13 dead sheep. A whole 

 herd of Ovis dalli — a species nowhere numerous, and a spe- 



