1922] Swarth: Birds and Mammals of the Stikine Region 189 



"We saw trappers' skins, also, from various points on the Stikine, and 

 they all appeared to be paler colored than phaeus. It seems safe to 

 assume that but one subspecies of beaver occurs over the entire length 

 of this river, and apparently it is a relatively pale-colored form. There 

 are probably beavers on the mainland coast of southeastern Alaska 

 wherever conditions are suitable, and also on most of the islands. 

 From this whole general region, however, specimens are available only 

 from Admiralty Island, where the dark colored Castor c. phaeus 

 occurs. Whether this form occupies a habitat more extensive than 

 this one island, and the extent of the area on the coast of Alaska that 

 is occupied by the paler colored subspecies of the Stikine region, are 

 points that still remain to be ascertained. 



Odocoileus columbianus sitkensis Merriam. Sitka Deer 

 No deer nor any sign of their presence was seen until we reached 

 the mouth of the river. At Sergief Island the fresh tracks of one indi- 

 vidual were seen on the beach during the first week in September. 

 Deer are fairly numerous on the nearby Farm Island, but they seldom 

 cross over to Sergief. Dixon spent several days (August 26-29) on a 

 trip to Mitkof Island. Deer are abundant there, as on' most of the 

 islands of the Alexander Archipelago, and on August 28 three were 

 shot. One of these (no. 31012), a spike buck, was preserved as a 

 specimen. 



Alces americanus gigas Miller. Alaska Moose 



The most important game mammal of the region and the main 

 source of fresh meat for the residents of the country. We were told 

 that twenty or thirty years ago moose were scarce in the Telegraph 

 Creek region and almost unknown farther down the river, and that 

 they had steadily increased in numbers since that time. At present 

 they are abundant. We saw fresh sign everywhere we went, in the 

 immediate vicinity of each of our camps (including points within two 

 miles of the town of Telegraph Creek), and as far down the Stikine as 

 the Great Glacier. Moose are known to occur regularly even farther 

 down stream, and we were told of one being killed at the river's mouth 

 some years ago. On the mountains above Doch-da-on Creek fresh 

 moose tracks and droppings were seen just above timber line, at about 

 4000 feet elevation. 



