FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



45 



tations enacted in older states, but we are 

 sadly in need of a reasonable law with pro- 

 visions for thoroughly enforcing it. 



Before closing allow me to compliment 

 you upon the stand taken in Recreation 

 on the subject of game protection. Let the 

 good work go on. 



M. K. Barnum. 



THE COOK'S INLET COUNTRY. 



Seattle, Wash. 

 Editor Recreation: The Cook's In- 

 let country is Alaska's most wonderful 

 combination. At the entrance of the Inlet 

 is Mount Augustine, an island which, if not 

 a living volcano, is but recently dead. I in- 

 fer this from the looks of the land and from 

 the fact that the mountain seems to grow 

 warmer as you ascend toward the summit. 

 In fact, the natives assert that about once 

 in 10 years the mountain gives evidence of 

 life. 



Flanking the inlet, on either side, are 

 towering, snow clad mountains, rolling 

 tundras — many miles in extent — with scat- 

 tering spruce groves, extensive fresh water 

 lakes and broad valleys covered with wav- 

 ing grass and nodding flowers. This inlet 

 extends so far into the interior that it re- 

 ceives a portion of its warm, summer sun; 

 also a share of its winter weather, with a 

 heavier fall of snow than is found in the 

 interior. Here, in all their cold grandeur 

 you will see the mighty glaciers—relics of 

 past and forgotten ages — sweeping down 

 to the sea. 



Here too are wild fowl in great variety, 

 and in countless numbers. Gulls' eggs, 

 duck and geese eggs are among the staple 

 articles of food, during the spring and sum- 

 mer months. 



Moose, caribou, mountain sheep and the 

 fearless cinnamon bear roam over the 

 mountains and valleys, worthy game for 

 any man's steel. 



But one place in all the known world 

 (the Bay of Fundy), has a higher tide 

 than is found at Cook's Inlet. Here the 

 full moon tide is 45 feet, and the highest 

 spring tide over 50 feet. The inlet has 

 nearly 100 miles of tide flats that are un- 

 covered at low water; and on these flats 

 many a poor prospector, not accustomed 

 to such high tides, has been left with 

 his small boat, by the receding waters, 

 miles away from the beach. Then, some 

 hours later, he has watched with fearful 

 forebodings the incoming tidal waves, and 

 has listened to his death knell in the sullen 

 roar of this mad rush of waters. 



On the shores of this inlet can be found 

 the relics of a people who were once here 

 in great numbers. Tyonick, which is lo- 

 cated on the North foreland, 100 miles up 

 the inlet, had at one time, according to 

 native tradition, over 10,000 inhabitants. 



To-day the caving banks of their ancient 

 grave yards expose to the view of the 

 passer-by many human skulls and bones. 

 On the advent of the white man these peo- 

 ple withered away like the leaves of the 

 forest and to-day a dozen natives and one 

 white trader comprise the entire population 

 of Tyonick. I send you herewith an old 

 coin which I picked up on the beach at Ty- 

 onick. It may or may not be of historic 

 value.* 



On the beach at this place can be found 

 small pieces of amber; also plenty of semi- 

 petrified wood, which makes good fuel. 

 There are great coal deposits near the en- 

 trance to Cook's Inlet, at Coal Harbor. 

 There is also a large coal oil marsh back 

 near the mountains, opposite Kasilkoff. 



Here the lordly king salmon, weighing 

 40 to 100 pounds is taken, in great numbers, 

 on Six' Mile and Resurrection creeks and 

 their tributaries. 



Hydraulic mining is carried on success- 

 fully, here, while the gulches, at the head 

 waters of the Kenai, show evidence of hav- 

 ing been mined years ago, by the Russians. 



There is plenty of timber for domestic 

 purposes at the Inlet. To the North are the 

 Shushitna and Knik valleys — 2 in one as 

 it were. About 45 miles up the larger 

 stream is a series of rapids with a trading 

 post near by; and up this valley is a good 

 winter route to the Yukon, 400 miles 

 away, over an open, rolling country, prin- 

 cipally high divides. 



Alaska is the only frontier we have left 

 and Cook's Inlet is one of its favored spots. 

 I predict that the present generation will 

 see many prosperous towns and villages on 

 its shores. 

 L. L. Bales, Alaska Guide, Seattle, Wash. 



A SHOSHONE VIEW OF IT. 



Salt Lake, Utah. 

 Editor Recreation: We were in the 

 vicinity of the Jackson Hole country, the 

 sportsman's paradise of America, at the 

 time of the late Indian scare in that local- 

 ity. It was in the month of July, when 

 all nature was clothed in its richest garb; 

 the roaring streams kept perfect time to the 

 music of the breezes as they whistled 

 through the immense forests of stately 

 pines; the grand and majestic Teton Peaks 

 were always in view, seemingly endeavor- 

 ing to push their spires through the clouds 

 above. The laughing waters were clear and 

 pure, and millions of gamey trout were 

 sporting on the surface. No matter in what 

 direction one might turn, the eye would 

 rest upon a scene indescribably wild. It 

 seemed that this particular spot was^ set 

 apart by the hand of the Lord for the enjoy- 



A copper coin, apparently of Russian make, but so worn 

 that the date is lost.— Editor. 



