IV THE BIG GAME OF ALASKA 47 



Even in some of our own good standard works on big 

 game measurements I have met with some astonishing 

 statements, such as that bears have been killed in Alaska 

 measuring 13 feet in a straight line from nose to tail, and 

 having an estimated weight of 1800 lbs. or even 2000 lbs. 

 To prove the inaccuracy of these statements I will quote the 

 following example. Some years ago particulars were required 

 of the largest measurements known of a Kodiak bear for 

 publication in a well-known English book on sport. 



Application was made to the head of a recognised com- 

 mercial company at Kodiak for details. A rumour came 

 from the mainland on the Alaska Peninsula that the natives 

 near Wrangel had the skin of a very large bear. An old 

 employ^ of the Commercial Company was sent over to get 

 this skin, which en passant I may add was probably the 

 skin of U. dalli gyas, and therefore not a true Kodiak bear at 

 all. I happened to meet this man on a subsequent occasion, 

 and he gave me details of the affair, saying that on arrival 

 he found the skin in a native hut stretched over a beam in 

 the roof, both ends of it strained with ropes, and heavy 

 weights affixed to it. The measurements of this skin, which 

 really did exceed 13 feet in length, were returned as the 

 correct measurements of a large Kodiak bear ! 



In 1903 I had a unique opportunity of seeing laid 

 together all the skins of the bears which had been killed 

 during that season on Kodiak Island. They were then at 

 the store which belongs to the Alaska Commercial Company, 

 and the manager, Mr. Goss, kindly showed me the whole 

 lot, saying that he certainly had some measuring over 12 feet 

 unstretched. They were a fine lot of skins, of all colours 

 and sizes, and about 60 in number, but the largest stretched 

 skin did not measure 10 feet, and the largest unstretched 



