258 ALASKA. 



grab or snatch tlie fish, which, when they see it near, they in- 

 stantly strike at it with their paws and most always hit; then 

 they either throw or carry their prey to the beach and return 

 to continue their work until they have as many as they want. 

 With the last fish they go to the bank and begin to eat. After 

 killing the fishes the bears eat only the heads, because tbis is 

 the fattest part. 



" Bears in the winter sleep in dens, anywhere under cliffs, in 

 holes, or caves ; but I have heard that they have been some- 

 times seen walking about in the winter. 



" Foxes may be divided into Made, cross, and red, the greater 

 part red. They are caught in two ways, i. e., guns and traps ; 

 the latter is the best method, and by it the most are secured. 

 Hunting-season is in the fall and winter, when they are in new 

 and full fur. Trapping-season begins about 5th October and 

 continues as long as the snow lasts. 



" Blue foxes are confined to the Prybilov Islands, on Saint 

 George especially, where they annually kill about 1,500. It is 

 said that when these islands were first discovered there was 

 naught but blue foxes there, of most excellent quality : but a 

 few winters afterward came white foxes, which breed very 

 rapidly, and in a great measure spoiled the fur ; that now the 

 fur which once was called Hue is called smohy. 



"iSea-otters are distinguished above everything on account of 

 their great value and small numbers. There was a time when 

 they were killed in thousands, now only by hundreds. There 

 are plenty of places where before there were great numbers of 

 sea-otters ; now not one is to be seen or found. The reason for 

 this is most evident : every year hunted without rest, they have 

 fled to places unknown and without danger. 



" Land-otters are found only on the Shumagins, Oonemak, and 

 the peninsula in this Aleutian district. They do not live in 

 the sea, but are found in the lakes and go close to the sea ; 

 they have longer feet or limbs, and can run on land better than 

 any of the other animals (amphibious) cf their class. Of the 

 number taken in this district th-ere is no true record, but in the 

 best years they do not get over 100. They are hunted, like 

 foxes, with guns and traps, but they are very strong and full of 

 life." 



