156 
FOREST AND STREAM 
April, 1921 
METHODS OF SAVING ALASKA GAME 
AN INTELLIGENT AND AUTHORITATIVE OPINION FROM ONE WHO HAS LIVED LONG 
IN ALASKA AND HAS MADE A CLOSE STUDY OF ACTUAL FIELD CONDITIONS 
By WALTER L. LODGE 
A FTER reading some articles that 
appeared in recent numbers of 
Forest and Stream I have come 
to the conclusion that there is very lit- 
tle more to be said on the game prob- 
lems of Alaska. These articles and es- 
pecially Mr. Sheldon’s, which appeared 
in the March, 1920, number, cover the 
subject pretty thoroughly. 
I believe that Col. Grave’s article on 
Forestry and Game Conservation in the 
May number calls attention to many 
good principles that should be applied 
in Alaska. He calls attention to one of 
our greatest problems, that is, to build 
up an efficient corps of men who will 
actually administer the game in an in- 
telligent manner. 
I do not think it necessary to reduce 
the game bag as has been suggested by 
Mr. McGuire, of Outdoor Life, unless it 
should apply to specific localities. It is 
my opinion that the protection of the 
game and some fur-bearing animals in 
Alaska should be in the hands of the 
Biological Survey and a considerable 
number of good hunters employed as 
game wardens, whose duty it should be 
to inforce the laws and destroy all pred- 
atory animals and birds and to do any- 
thing else that will aid in the'develop- 
ment of the country. 
I sincerely believe that hunter-ward- 
ens who will work faithfully could save 
more game than all the hunters in 
Alaska kill. These men should be re- 
quired to keep a diary and make month- 
ly reports on all matters pertaining to 
game. They should cut trails, build 
shelter cabins, etc. The presence of 
wardens in the hunting country would 
prevent many violations of the law. The 
prime object of law is prevention not 
prosecution. 
A LASKA is a hard country for 
some to live in, especially pros- 
pectors who should be given every 
encouragement. In regard to the pro- 
tection of brown bear, I am very strongly 
in favor of the present protection of 
them in certain localities, but in protect- 
ing them other game and interests 
should be considered. There is lots of 
room for the bear in parts of Alaska. 
Just because a bear kills a man once in 
a while is no more reason for exterm- 
inating them than it is for killing all 
auto drivers because some of them are 
reckless and run over people. Simply 
putting laws on paper doesn’t make 
them effective in the game fields. What 
is most needed is action along the right 
lines. The present system of appoint- 
ing game wardens is more or less con- 
nected with politics. Some of them 
spend their time wearing out the seats 
of their trousers. 
Mr. Sheldon intimates that the laws 
we now have are almost without possi- 
ble enforcement and lays the blame on 
the people whose interests are affected 
White sheep head from the Kenai 
( Ovis dalli) 
by them. This is true to some extent. 
That being the case there must be some- 
thing wrong either with the laws or the 
people here. As it is the easier thing 
to do, why not change the laws to suit 
the people. First of all, a game warden 
should not be considered or allowed as 
an aesthetic addition to the game of 
Alaska. Why not make him more use- 
ful than ornamental? He should be and 
could be of great help to the people 
instead of occupying the position he does 
now. 
One of the things to be understood 
by outsiders, law-makers and would-be 
law-makers is the great dependence the 
people in this country must place on one 
another. Consider the position a man 
is in when he squeals on a violator of 
the law. Right here is the most badly 
shattered vertebra in the game law. 
Here in this country where everyone 
knows everyone else (in each specific 
locality) and are so dependent upon one 
another at times, no one can afford to 
squeal. This feature of the law is more 
apt to be used for revenge than for 
good. Any information given to game 
wardens should be voluntary and not 
compulsory and should be confidential. 
Mr. Sheldon says that we resent out- 
side influence; well certainly there are 
some reasons for it when you consider 
the different opinions expressed by such 
men as Dr. Hornaday and Mr. McGuire. 
Why is it that they differ so widely on 
the eagle question? One advocates the 
protection of them, the other a raise 
in the bounty for killing them. The fact 
is neither one understands that problem 
in Alaska. 
Mr. Sheldon certainly understands the 
problem when he states that, “what is 
needed are different regulations for the 
various independent game sections, 
adapted to the special game conditions 
of each.” Mr. Sheldon further states that 
“it should be clear to outsiders that in 
considering the game laws of Alaska 
they must first understand the condi- j 
tions of that country and consider the 
just material interests of the people liv- 
ing there and also their point of view.” 
Many of us have different views of 
many problems. 
There is some agitation against the 
outside sportsman by some men who call 
themselves Alaskans. Now, what is an 
Alaskan? We are a great conglomera- 
tion of people from all over the world, 
many of whom are only here to make 
a stake and get out again. Most of us 
came here of our own free will, many of 
us have failed to make our little pile 
and have become old-timers. Perhaps, 
as Sheldon intimates, some think that 
the U. S. should feel grateful because ; 
we are here. 
I 
A LASKA belongs to the people of 
the U. S. A. and was paid for with 
their good money. Surely we do 
not inherit the whole country or any 
special privileges by coming here. Every 
citizen should have the same rights and 
every citizen should take an interest in 
the welfare of Alaska and the protection ■ 
of its natural resources, including game. i|| 
It remains to be seen if they are willing I 
to spend the money needed to protect fl 
and develop the game and fur supply. | 
It would surprise some to know of the 
things that happen in the game fields. 
I do not refer to the deeds of men only. 
A recent outdoor publication tells of the 
work of eagles among wild sheep. ■ 
Eagles are not the only things that prey 41 
on the sheep, and sheep are not the only vjfl 
things that eagles prey upon. 
In the Weekly News Letter, January | 
7, 1920, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, ap- 
pears an article which states that from 
the estimates of farmers and stockmen 
not less than $5,000,000 was saved to 
them by a force of 400 to 500 hunters ; I 
who killed 32,000 wild animals under the ! 
direction of the Biological Survey. It 
would be impossible to tell how much ■ 
game would be saved by such operations. 
Now I want to express my opinion on < 
our Governor’s attitude regarding some j 
things. He believes that market hunting | 
should be permitted for the reason that 
some cannot get out to kill their game. ] 
Market hunting should be controlled 1 j 
with due regard to the supply of game 
and the needs of any locality and the 
means of transportation existing there. j 
Right here on the Kenai Peninsula (and 
I have seen and done the same elsewhere) j 
men will go out and kill a moose and 
wallow through snow and slave like a 
horse, pulling a sled or dragging the 
meat through the snow or packing it out 
and finally get it to town. And those I 
poor people who are not able to take a 
little time off to get their game will 1 
offer about one-third of what it is actu- 
