which resulted in imdue destruction of game. The purpose is to Kaints.in. 

 the rildlife that is now available in conformity 'vith other reasona-tle 

 uses of land, to improve it, and to harvost the annual crop on a st'.stained- 

 yield "basis. 



The general protlem, created D7 the irapingement of settlenent on 

 wildlife occupation, has to do with protection of species against undue 

 take and of cover against destruction "by fires or other causes fcr which 

 man is responsiole. Many local qusstions have arisen "because of irreg^olar 

 settlement and conflict with varying ■.vildlife features. These pro"bl5!:.s 

 are first in need of investigation. 



The Eussian and the early ALiericaz: occupations were largely confined 

 to coastal Alaska. ±hey resulted in near eztemination of the sea otter, 

 and in depletion of a.11 game along Bering Sea and the Arctic coast. Later 

 occupation of the interior "because of C-iscovery of gold and the increased 

 settlement of southeastern sjid southern Alaska in development of the fish- 

 ing industry created more and more pressure on wildlife. The take of gar.e, 

 fi;-r, and fish steadily increased until it reached the point denandiiig reg- 

 ulation, which is now in effect. Continued use and the threat of I'-xTtheT 

 settlement req^uire further investigation as a "basis for '.itiprcved regulation 

 and management. 



Contri"buting to the pressure on wildlife and in nany instances creat- 

 ing important local problems, have "been the construction of the Alaslca 

 Eailroad and of many roads and trails; the opening up of large-scale 

 mining operations; Iccatinn of canneries; esta"blishment of the Palmer 

 colony in I.Iatamaska "^'"alley; hcmecteading in Tansjia Valley and on ICsnai 

 Peninsula, Ilodiak Island, end elsewhere; island for. ranching; and grazing 

 development along the coast of Bering Sea and the Arctic Ccean end on the 

 Aleutian Islands and Kodiak Island. Among these problems may "be mentioned 

 (1) the conflict "between reindeer raising and cari"bcu maintenance; (2) the 

 raising of cattle and sheep on -odiak Island ver sus occupation "by "brown 

 "bears; (3) the maintenance oz" tne world-fsmovs Kenai r.ocse h.erd in the 

 face of precsiu-e "by settlement; (4) the maintenance of wildlife and the 

 development of livestock production in the i^iatanusha ''alley; (5) the main- 

 tenance of Sitka deer in vierr of increased settler.snt and recui'rent heavj;- 

 losses during severe winters; (S) the conflict "between "bird nesting and 

 production of "blue foxes on the -Aleutian IslaJids; (7) leaver production 

 and the grazing of livestock and maintenance of fish-spa'Txing streams; 

 (8) the maintenance of Tall sheep a::.d no^Jirtain goats in the face of pres- 

 sure "by settlement and losses from predators and disease; (9) the main- 

 tenance and improvement of vaterfowl nesting areas in view of settlerjent 

 demands, destruction of plant cover "by fires, 2nd losses from predaceous 

 birds and coyotes; and (lO) the protection of fvx animals generally in 

 view of increased trapping demands, fire hazrxds, rnd destruction by coy- 

 otes and wolves. 



