July, 1920 
FOREST 
AND STREAM 
361 
ALASKA BROWN BEAR PROTECTION 
THE WIDESPREAD INTEREST FELT IN THIS MATTER AMONG SPORTSMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS 
IS EVIDENCED BY MANY LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB 
L AST winter Governor Riggs of 
Alaska urged the removal of pro- 
tection from the great brown bears 
of Alaska; and his recommendations' 
gave concern to naturalists and to people 
interested in wild life protection. 
There is an open season on these 
brown bears in Alaska, so that they may 
be killed like any other game; but Gov- 
eror Riggs’ suggestion was that the pro- 
hibition against the export of their hides 
should be removed, and that a traffic in 
these hides should be permitted. Such 
a traffic would make skin hunting profit- 
able, and would presumably result in the 
speedy extermination of the species. 
These bears are unlike any others in 
the world, and are confined to a limited 
area, — up and down the coast of Alaska 
and northern British Columbia. They 
are the largest existing carnivorous land 
mammals, and it is felt by most people 
that their extinction would be a public 
misfortune. 
The widespread interest felt in this 
matter among sportsmen’s associations 
and game protectors generally is evi- 
denced by letters received on this sub- 
ject by Mr. Morgan Davis, Chairman of 
the Game Preservation Committee of the * 
Boone and Crockett Club. These letters 
cover a wide area of the United States 
and seem to show that the writers are 
substantially unanimous against remov- 
ing protection from these bears. 
It is impossible to give more than the 
substance of these letters; but we have 
been permitted to abstract them and to 
print the gist of them as given below. 
They are all from sportsmen’s associa- 
tions, but besides these a number of let- 
ters have been received from the game 
protective officials of several states and 
these will be given in a subsequent issue. 
The letters from associations follow: 
C ANADA, Invermere, East Kootenay, 
British Columbia; Windermere Dis- 
trict Rod and Gun Club, John A. 
Hope, President: “They must be saved 
from extinction, cost what it may.” 
Canada, Quebec; Sportsmen’s Fish and 
Game Protective Assoc., Chas. Fre- 
mont, Sec.: “Not familiar- with condi- 
tions in British Columbia and Alaska, 
but feel it desirable to maintain the 
protection given to these bears in the 
past.” 
California, Napa; County Assoc., W. 
B. Griffith, Chairman, does not agree 
with the proposition of protecting dan- 
gerous varieties of game. 
Connecticut, Meriden; C. K. Decherd: 
“The bears should still be protected.” 
California, Berkeley; California Associ- 
ated Societies for the Conservation of 
Wild Life, Wm. Fred’k Bade, Pres.: 
“We should strongly oppose removal 
of protection of bears in Alaska.” 
Delaware, Wilmington; Delaware State 
Sportsmen’s Assoc., W. W. Terrill, 
Sec.: “Association absolutely opposed 
Courtesy of New York Zoological Society. 
The Alaska brown bear 
to sale of any kind of game or trophies. 
This would include Alaska brown 
bear.” 
Illinois, Alton; Madison County State 
League, James H. Aldous: “Big brown 
bears ought to be protected. Are now 
killed in too great numbers.” 
Indiana, Indianapolis; Marion County 
Fish and Game Protective Assoc., 
Chas. C. Darby, Sec.: “At a meeting 
a resolution was passed stating that 
the Association was opposed to the 
commercialization of the skins of the 
brown bears of Alaska.” 
Indiana, Noblesville: Hamilton County 
Fish and Game Protective Assoc., Wal- 
ter Shirts, Sec.: “The Assoc, does not 
favor the removal of any regulations 
protecting these bears. Commerciali- 
ation in wild animals leads to extinc- 
tion and is the worst enemy to conser- 
vation.” 
Indiana, Muncie; Delaware County Fish 
and Game Protective Assoc., 0. F. 
Raymond, Sec.: “It would be another 
great mistake if protection is removed 
from the Alaskan bears, thereby giv- 
ing commercial hunters the opportun- 
ity to ruthlessly slaughter them.” 
Indiana, Anderson; Madison County Fish 
and Game Assoc., Blyth Johnson, Sec- 
retary, general expression in behalf 
of protection. 
Indiana, Logansport; Cass Co. Fish and 
Game Protective Assoc., H. H. Kleb- 
heart, Sec.: “Protect them.” 
Indiana, Wawasee; Wawasee Protective 
Assoc., Geo. L. Xanders, Sec., is in 
favor of protecting these bears to the 
fullest extent. 
Iowa, Sac City; Sac County Gun Club, 
W. F. Weay, Sec., anxious to see the 
present law stand just as it is now. 
Iowa, Ames; Iowa Conservation Assoc., 
G. Brown Macdonald, Sec.: “It would 
be nothing short of a crime to permit 
the extinction of such a unique species 
as the big brown bear of the North- 
west.” 
Iowa, Mason City; Cerro Gordo County 
Fish and Game Club, H. L. Campbell, 
Sec.: “Am of the (individual) opinion 
that the protection of the great brown 
bear should be increased rather than 
removed.” 
Iowa, Mason City; Cerro Gordo County 
Fish and Game Club, H. L. Campbell, 
Sec. : “At a meeting voted unanimously 
as opposed to removal of any protec- 
tion that the brown bear now receives 
and favors increase of protection.” 
Iowa, Council Bluffs; Council Bluffs Fish 
and Game Protective Assoc., Carl C. 
Cowles, Sec.: “Passed resolution Mar. 
20th advocating the prevention by legal 
means of commercialization of wild 
game in the United States and partic- 
ularly prevention of traffic in hides of 
bears.” 
Maine, Bangor; Maine Sportsmen’s Fish 
and Game Assoc., L. W. Somers, Sec.: 
“It would be a serious mistake to re- 
move protection from these bears.” 
Maine, Portland; Cumberland County 
Fish and Game Assoc., Geo. C. Orr, 
Sec.: “Commend steps to protect these 
bears.” 
Maryland, Hagerstown: Washington 
County Fish and Game Assoc., F. L. 
Bentz, Sec.: “Heartily endorse the pro- 
tection of bears and hope the law pro- 
tecting them will remain.” 
Montana, Hardin; Hardin Rod and Gun 
Club, John L. Waddell, Sec.: “We col- 
lectively favor further protection for 
these animals.” 
Montana, Belgrade; Belgrade Rod and 
Gun Club, W. B. Wallace, Sec.: “Our 
Association is heartily in favor of giv- 
ing these bears proper protection. 
Glad to use our influence to assist in 
the matter.” 
Massachusetts, Amherst; Norwottuck 
Fish and Game Assoc., E. M. Whit- 
comb, Pres. : “In hearty sympathy with 
keeping restrictions as they are at 
present.” 
Massachusetts, Cambridge; Harvard Gun 
Club and Bay State Sportsmen’s As- 
soc., Redington Fiske, Jr., Pres.: “Pro- 
tection should not be removed. Will 
gladly support efforts to maintain pro- 
tection as noted in Alaska and allow 
full use of our name in the matter.” 
Massachusetts, Northampton; Hamp- 
shire County Sportsmen’s Club, F. E. 
Shumway, Pres.: “Protect the bears.” 
Minnesota, Wabasha; Wabasha County 
Sportsmen’s Assoc., F. B. Jewell, Sec., 
on record as in favor of game protec- 
tion in every way possible. 
Missouri, St. Charles; Weber Lake 
Hunting and Fishing Club, Chas. H. 
Kausteiner, Recorder, believes in rea- 
