ON FORBIDDEN GROUND. 



J. WILLS 



In June, 1900, the little steamer "Tussler," 

 12 tons burden, left Ketchikan, Alaska, for 

 home, coasting along Southern Alaska and 

 clown the peninsula as far as Dutch Har- - 

 bor. Thence we went tc St. George Island 

 and lay to leeward for shelter. We went 

 ashore, which is forbidden ground, and 

 the blue foxes followed us like dogs. Six 

 of them even followed me aboard the boat. 



St. George is one of the Pribiloff group 

 which the North American Commercial 

 Company has leased from the United States 



and polar bears. We saw a few sandhill 

 cranes, in a lagoon in the middle of the 

 island. 



After a stay of 8 days at St. Mathews, we 

 pulled out for St. Lawrence, which is 175 

 miles Northeast by North. We had a hard 

 trip, as the sea was mountain high, and the 

 wind was fierce. Several times I thought 

 the little steamer would never make the 

 island, but she finally reached shelter be- 

 hind Southeast Cape. The land runs back 

 several miles, is low and full of fresh 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY JULIUS STERNBERG. 



PATTERSON ISLAND BLUE FOX FARM. NEAR KETCHIKAN, ALASKA. 



There are over 800 foxes on the island. Established 4 years. Original start comprised 25 foxes, m.iles 



and females 



Government. The U. S. S. "Rush" came 

 and dropped her hook alongside. That 

 put a stop to going ashore any more, 

 though we looked with longing eyes at the 

 seal rookery. 



Next morning we pulled out for St. 

 Mathews, 235 miles Northwest by North, 

 from St. George, and 475 miles from Dutch 

 Harbor, arriving there after a 36 hours' 

 run. We went ashore and filled our tank 

 with fresh water. This island is unin- 

 habited except by patch and white foxes 



water lagoons. Thousands of emperor 

 geese breed in those lagoons. With a 

 Savage rifle I killed 7 geese and 2 white 

 swans in one hour. With the exception 

 of 2 geese all were shot through the 

 head. I made one shot on the wing with 

 solid point ball and got 3 geese. We could 

 have killed hundreds of thes birds and 

 swans, but there being only 5 in our crew 

 we had all we could use, and thanks to 

 Recreation. I have long since lost the de- 

 sire to kill all in sight just for the sake of 

 killing. Unfortunately we had no camera. 



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