A nualjer of midlife rafti^^s have "been established in Alaska to as- 

 sure the j^reservetion and restoration of various species of wild "birds and 

 animals. In addition, the Moitnt Mcilinley National Park, C-lacier Bay Na- 

 tional MonuiDent, and Kat^^^i National Llon-uoent provide wildlife sanct^jary. 

 The total area in definitely established wildlife sanctuaries in 1937 was 

 15,436 square mile a. 



The Territory, through its lef-islatiire, appropriates funds for the 

 payment of bounty on vrolves, coyotes, eagles, T'olly Yarden trout, hair 

 seals, and other preda-ceous forms. It also cooperc'tes '.vith the I'a.tional 

 G-overnsent in th.e operation of en experimental f-or farm at P9:crsburg, 

 where the pen raising of fo:ce3 and minks is being studied. This experi- 

 mental fixr farm is a br^^nch station of the Office of Eiq^eriment Stations 

 of the Department of Agriculture, conducted in cooperation with the Uni- 

 versity of Alaska. 



Invest igat ions of ^ ildlife Besources in Alaska 



The solution of v/ildlife problems in Alaska requires research, man- 

 agement planning, end suitable regulation and enforcement based thereon. 

 Results of investigationn of the fisheries and f^or seals are obtained in 

 the reports of the former Bure.^u of .Tisheries (noT? part of the Pich ?nd 

 Wildlife Service) v/hich maintains laboratories for research at Seattle, 

 T^ash, , and at Ketchikan and Little Port Salter, Alaska. Previous investi- 

 gations of the flora and fauna of Alaclca have been mostly of a general 

 character by varioi^s govemnental agencies or private inc'lviduals or in- 

 cidental to otnor s'urveys. Those are included in the reports of the Geo- 

 logical Survey, Forest Service, the Ilsrriman Alaska Sxpedition, i-ational 

 Geographic Society, Bureau of Soils, Bureau of Plant Industry, and the 

 former Bureau of Biological S-^arvey (Pisn aad './ildlife Service), Specific 

 investigations and published reports are available on the silver and blue 

 foxes, the caribou and reindeer, and on the brown bear of Admiralty Is- 

 land. A reindeer experiment station v.as maintained by the Biological 

 Survey on Bering Sea and later at Colj.ege, Alaska, from 1920 to 1936. 

 Although chiefly engaged in investigations of reindeer and caribou and 

 forage resources, the station al:io studied mo'jntain sheep, musk oxen, and 

 b-off aloes. Cooperative studies oy the Biological Survey and the Alaska 

 Game Commission have been made of the birds and foxes on the Aleutian Is- 

 lands. Preliminary studies are now being mads of the waterfov/1 nesting 

 grounds in Alaska by the Pish and Wildlife Service and the Commission. 



Present inve-:tigations of the land wilclife resources in Alaska were 

 begun in October 1937. The aim is to develop a program of wildlife re- 

 search that will give to administration the factual information needed 

 for regulation and enforcement. By scientific stud;^' and obs-r-rvaticn of 

 specific problems, especially of those most pressing, it is hoped to 

 give the administration a basis for prompt action that r'ill as far as pos- 

 sible avoid future conflicts and assure the perpetuation and proper use 

 of desirable wildlife features. 



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