T
VOLUME VII, NUMBER Q.■
ADAK
SUM
19 February 1962 I
ADAKIANS JOIN MR. ROBERT D, JONES OF US.
FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE IN TRIP TO ATKA
Chiefs John R. KANGAS, UTC and Joseph (n) TODERICK, EMC, Adak*s own Navy Alaskan
"Sourdoughs" joined Mr. Robert D. Jones of the U.S.-Fish and Wildlife Service in an
outing to observe winter wildlife conditions which took them to- Atka Island by the
newly received "Wandering Tattler". > -
The "Wandering Tattler" is a Cape Cod Dory which is 20 feet long and powered by
a 4 cylinder Mercury Outboard .(with one other outboard along for a spare) and altho
it looks no more seaworthy than an oversized rowboat has been proven in service for
hundreds of years by Grand Banks fishermen. It is interesting to note that the man
ufacturers of the boat in Massachusetts have been in business since 1783. Named for
a shore bird that nests oh Adak, the "Wandering Tattler" is the third of three of
the boats in use by the Fish & Wildlife Service in the Aleutians. The other two are
^ named after birds also, "The Dipper" and the"Phalaroee" which are native to the area.
v The "Wandering-“Tattler" will be used as a means of travel to areas around Adak by
the Fish and.Wildlife Service for observation trips and. other operations in the area.
The-following highlights of the trip were told by Mr, Jones, who has been a rep
resentative of the U.S. Fish and .Wildlife Service, Department of the. Interior in
the Aleutian area for many years;
For the first time observed several flocks of the bird, King Elder, which
nests in northern Alaska and Siberia and was never found as far west as the western
end of Atka although their had been reports of finding bones in deserted villages on
other islands this far west. *
une ot the inspiring and more pleasurable sights was the sighting of a flock
of 17 Whooper Swans from Asia which is the 2nd largest Swan in.the world. It was
late in the afternoon when these Swans were..sighted and their pure white beauty back
dropped against a black cloud while'they gave their calling gave the party'a-sight
to remember. . ■- “ -;*• ‘ .
Also sighted was a Laysan Albatross, which is more commonly known as the Mid
^ way wGooney Bird'* in the south pacific. Noted for their clumsiness on Midway Mr.
Jones stated that this lone flyer "was very 'graceful-.*
Also sighted were a herd of Reindeer (Rangifer sp: Reindeer Russian:0-lain
(Buxton)) which were in excellent condition. These reindeer o.n Atka island have
been mistakenly referred to as Caribou by some Adak residents. They are not Caribou
but Reindeer. The party killed three and brought them back,.observing they were in
fine shape.
On every island foxes were encountered. Extremely unwary the foxes came near
the party many times and one even came into their tent and was promptly expelled.Two
white fox were seen, one on Atka and one on Chaugul island.
Because of the weather and "tide rips the group stopped at other islands on their
way back although Mr. Jones said that the type of boat used Has been in open sea &
70 knot winds and survived. ", ’
Mr# Jones also 'gave your reporter a brief rundown on 'the Adak Caribou herd and he
reported that the count of 36 would be firm as Caribou band together at this time of
the year although they do scatter in the summer months. Chief KA.NGAS also accompan
ied Mr. Jones on the Adak Caribou count. The Caribou are still very tame and Mr.
Jones said he had to punch one bull in the nose to keep him from bothering them.
The herd has increased 50 % in two years taking into account Josses such as one ■
calf who got entangled in wire. Pictures1 will be posted in the Bering Building in
the near future and one will be able to see the growth of the herd in graphic detail.
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