PLAN FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BROWN BEAR 15 



of small boats, and especially in spring and midsummer when the 

 bears are within easy reach of boat anchorages. 



Nonresident hunters are required to report their kills to the Alaska 

 Game Commission. The field men of the Commission were in- 

 structed, beginning with 1932, to seek information on and keep a 

 record of the number of brown and grizzly bears killed in their 

 respective districts by others than nonresident big-game hunters, 

 the data to be obtained from every reliable source. In the calendar 

 year 1932 the kill in southeastern Alaska was thus determined to be 

 75 animals, of which 15 were taken by nonresident licensed hunters 

 and 60 by all others. The kill on Admiralty Island was 20 animals, 

 of which 10 were taken by nonresident licensed hunters. Consider- 

 ing these figures and making generous allowance for possible killing 

 not reported to the Commission, there can be no question that the 

 total yearly kill in southeastern Alaska, and on Admiralty Island in 

 particular, is at present well below the net increase. 



LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROTECTING BROWN BEARS 



The laws enacted by Congress for the protection of game in Alaska 

 give the Secretary of Agriculture broad discretionary powers. Pro- 

 tective measures in force can be changed readily and promptly and 

 kept up-to-date in meeting the demands of changing conditions. 

 The Secretary appoints and acts through the Alaska Game Com- 

 mission, which, created by the Alaska Game Laws of 1925, consists 

 of five residents of the Territory. Four of these, one from each 

 judicial division, serve without pay except on days when the Com- 

 mission is in session and when the members are otherwise actively 

 engaged in special game-administrative work. The fifth commis- 

 sioner is the chief representative of the Bureau of Biological Sur- 

 vey resident in Alaska, and is executive officer and secretary of the 

 Commission. The Commission makes recommendations through the 

 Biological Survey to the Secretary of Agriculture in regard to 

 changes in the laws and regulations, and exercises general direction 

 of the work of the game-warden force. The Biological Survey 

 conducts studies of wild-life problems and acts as technical advisor 

 to the Secretary of Agriculture and to the Commission in its admin- 

 istration of the wild-life resources of the Territory. 



The following are the principal provisions of the game laws and 

 regulations of 1933 affecting brown and grizzly bears in southeastern 

 Alaska : 



1. Throughout this section of Alaska bear hunting by both resi- 

 dents and nonresidents is restricted to a season extending from Sep- 

 tember 1 to June 20 (during at least 5 months of which period bears 

 are in hibernation) and to a seasonal bag limit of two animals. No 

 hunting of any kind or at any season is permitted in sanctuaries. 

 No hunting of bears is permitted in closed areas or in refuges estab- 

 lished exclusively for bear protection. 



2. Nonresidents of the Territory are required to obtain hunting 

 licenses from the Alaska Game Commission at a substantial cost and 

 to employ licensed guides. 



3. Residents of the Territory are not required to obtain hunting 

 licenses, pay any fees, or employ guides. 



