CATTLE AND SHEEP ON KODIAK
ISLAND ARE KILLED IN
LARGE NUMBERS.
SPAWNING SALMON ARE SLAIN.
Bruin Is of No Use at Al! to Mankind,
Yet Congress Has Reepatedly Re
fused to Repeal Law Protecting
Voracious Animals.
There are a great many good, Chris
tian people in this country whose eyes
suffuse with tears whenever they
think of the vanished glory of the
wilderness, declares John Rustgard in
the Alaska Bulletin. They may at any
time be hearde to lament the disap
pearance of the buffalo herds which
once roamed wild where the milch cow
now grazes or the wheat fields glow,
and with the poet they still sigh for
the return of the time.
“When wild in wood the noble
savage ran.”
Progress is to these people a trag
edy, and the pioneer an iconoclast
leaving destruction in his wake.
Entirely too much care has been ex
ercised lest such tragedy shall be en
acted in the last wilderness subject to
the attack of civilization—the Terri
tory of Alaska.
Kodiak Island is a spot upon which
“Providence has lavished His richest
gifts.” It is more properly a group
of islands consisting of some 10,000
square miles of rolling hills covered
with native grasse and luscious ber
ries in bewildering profusion and
abundance.
night Amount ot limber.
There is timber enough for domestic
use. but not enough to in any manner
discourage the cultivation of the
ground. The soil is made up partly of
volcanic ash and is extremely fertile
The climate is mild, and both, sheep
and cattle can at many places cam 101
themselves all winter. It is an ideal
dairying country. But the islands arc
overrun by a species of brown bear
with an insatiable appetite for fresh
beef and mutton. The United States
department of agriculture is operat
ing an experimental station at Kodiak.
In one season alone the brown bear
killed over two-thirds of the govern
ment’s sheep. To be more specific, the
bear killed forty-one out of sixty
sheep. Cattle are attacked and de
stroyed in the same manner. Some set
tler.- placed their cattle and sheep on a
small island in Ucjak Bay with the
hope that they would be safe from
molestation by the bear. But it was
soon discovered that this savage scent
ed the herds and swam to the island.
Prohibited by Law.
Yet, the killing of these brutes is
prohibited by law. When the settlers
begged for relief the authorities at
Washington answered by permitting
the brown bear to be killed during the
winter months when it is hibernating
and cannot be found; and even then
took precaution to hamstring the
hunter by limiting each to the killing
of two bears and in addition thereto
prohibiting the exportation and conse
quently the sale of the hides.
No one has ever been able to sug
gest and benefit which the bear can
confer upon the human race, except
it be to develop the combative emo
tions. On the contrary, they are a
constant menace to the pioneers per
sonally, many of whom have been
killed and many others mutilated by
them. They render stock raising next
to impossible, and destroy large quan
tities of spawning salmon. Yet, it has
proved impossible to induce congress
to lift the embargo which protects the
brutes.
Complaints Bring No Relief.
The officer in charge of the experi
mental station has often complained
about the discouragement to the cat
tle industry wrought by the bear, but
to no purpose. Congres has no ears
for such complaints. Say “bear” to
the average congressman and he im
mediately starts a lamentation over
the disappearance of the buffalo. The
fact that thousands of square miles of
fertile land is going to waste by rea
son of the nuisance is not considered
an argument in favor of lifting the
embargo.
Summarizing his complaints about
the bear in his report for 1915 the
superintendent of the experimental
station says:
“To protect the brown bear by law
is equivalent to prohibiting the live
stock industry by law in those regions
which are dominated by the bear. Bear
| and live stock cannot live peacably
! together.
Has Increased Rapidly.
“In the few years the bear has been
protected by law it has increased so
fast in certain sections, one of which
is the region about Kodiak, that
neither man nor beast is safe from his
attacks. Nor can he be fenced out.
On the Frye ranch, now abandoned,
located but a few miles from the Kal
sine Bay ranch, the bear has demolish
ed the fences in many places, and so
he has the fences on the experimental
station. If the law gives no relief it
will be necessary to employ armed
guards to protect both cattle and
sheep while at pasture. They can be
safe only while locked up in strong
buildings. The practical destruction of
the live stock industry would appear
to be a high price to pay for the pleas
ure that may be enjoyed by a few
| sportsmen from the states who make
occasional visits to Alaska in search
j of trophies.
Will Ruin Big Industry.
"It is certain that live stock breed
i ing will be impossible on Kodiak and
i Afognak islands if the bear is allow
j ul to hold unrestricted sway.”
Kodiak and adjoining islands are
| not the only fields of attractive ag
| ricultural land in Alaska rendered un
! inhabitable and useless by the con
j servation of the bear. The country on
j both sides of Kachemak Bay and at
the head of Cook Inlet hold out many
! inducements to the stock raiser were
I it not for the solicitude bestowed upon
; the brown bear by our government.
The bear, whether black or brown,
is not only an enemy of the live stock
industry, but of the fishing. He is
himself a fisherman of the highest
! skill—and, like our city sports, kills
i for pleasure. During the season when
1 the salmon are going up the stream to
spawn, the bear amuses himself by
throwing the live salmon out of the
water.
Gorges Himself on Fish.
He is a gourmand and gorges him
j self, but is so fastidious that he will
j eat only the cheek of the fish. It is
generally considered that a bear will
eat one-third of its own weight
in fish each day. When it is remem
^ bered that a brown bear not unusually
weighs as much as three-fourths of a
j ton, it will be realized that a good
many salmon cheeks are required to
satisfy his wants. Yet, if you examine
the salmon thrown out by the bear you
will find a large percentage which
j show no marks of violence except
! scratches of the bear’s claws on the
; back or side, proving that these have
! been thrown out for pure sport. When
I it now is remembered that these sal
| mon are in the stream to spawn and
that the destrutcion of one represents
the destruction of thousands of em
| bryo salmon, it will be realized that
: the bear is a fish destroyer of no in
significant proportions.
Congress Refuses to Act.
The people of Alaska have for years
persistently begged Congress to re
lieve them from these pests of the
agricultural and fishing industry, but
they have failed utterly to make any
impression upon the authorities in
position to gi'ant relief.
Nor are the bureaus to blame for
this policy of destruction so tenacious
ly adhered to. Proof of the truth of
the assertions above made has been in
part furnished by the bureau of fish
eries. In 1914 Dr. E. Lester Jones, the
then deputy commissioner of the
bureau, made a cursory investigation
of some of these complaints, and re
ported his own observations in part,
as follows:
“At Union bay, Cleveland Peninsula,
I spent over a day in and around the
region of Black Bear creek. I walked
the middle of the stream, also exam
ining both banks, for as much as three
miles. I found the greater part of the
shore, sometimes from 100 to 150 feet
back from the stream trodden like a
pasture. Over all this area, frequented
by bear during the salmon runs, I saw
hundreds upon hundreds of hump
backs, silvers and chums that had been
thrown out of the water by these
animals.
IJish Not Mutilated.
“In the majority of cases the fish
were not mutilated, only bruised by
the mark of the bear’s paw on their
backs, showing their characteristic
way of tossing the fish out of the
water. The bear is very fastidious
and prefers the cheek of the salmon to
any other part, * * * * The
stench along this stream was most un
pleasant, and besides the fish in vary
ing stages of decomposition there
were many bones that gave indication
of the large number of salmon des
troyed every year by bear. * * * *
“The foregoing examples of Union
Bay and Prince of Wales Island are
merely typical of many other places
where black bears are very plentiful
and the destruction of salmon is cor
respondingly heavy. On Admiralty
and Baranof islands, where the brown
and grizzly bears are more common,
these conditions are just as bad as on
other streams in southeastern
Alaska.”
It would seem opportune at this
time, to again endeavor to dis
suade congress from turning millions
of acres of the most attractive farm
land into bear pastures.
SHIPPING RATE
O. B. KENT WILL COME TO IN
VESTIGATE PROPOSED IN
CREASES BY STEAMERS.
DATA WILL BE ASSEMBLED.
Anchorage Business Men and Officials
of Alaskan Engineering Commission
Will Be Interviewed by Federal In
vestigator.
0. B. Kent, examiner for the United
States shipping board, will 'arrive in
Anchorage about May 24 for the pur
pose of investigating conditions upon
which the steamship companies op
erating vessels in Alaskan waters are
basin their claims for increases in
passenger and freight rates. This in
formation was received yesterday by
Robert Courtney, secretary of the
chamber of commerce.
Mr. Kent will call on the Anchor
age merchants and the officials of the
Alaskan Engineering commission to
ascertain their views. It is expected
that the commission officials and the
Anchorage business men will prepare
data on the subject for presentation
to Mr. Kent.
First class fares, includnig war
taxes, between Anchorage and Seattle
are now $68.04 for the upper deck and
$64.80 for the main deck. Steerage
pasage remains the same as last year,
namely $43.20.
An increased charge of 50 cents per
ton on all freight shipments has been
made by the steamship companies to
cover dock expenses at Seattle.
JAPANESE IS CRITICISED.
TOKIO, April 12.—Much attention
is being paid by the press to changed
conditions in America. The Kokumin
today publishes a long interview with
Marquis Okuma, the late prime min
ister and head of the liberal party,
under the title, “A Wide-Awake Na
tion and a Sleepy Nation.”
In brief, Marquis Okuma observes
the foreign and domestic policies of
the United States since she joined the
war show that the whole strength of
the country is directed towards unify
: ing the nation and making it stronger
i after the war. In conclusion he turn
ed his attention towards Japan where
he finds the people are listless and like
fishermen sleepily sitting on the river
bank and waiting for something to
bite instead of being alert to meet the
needs and opportunities of the country
after the war.
EARTH AND SUN.
A body weighing one pound on
earth would weigh twenty-seven and
a half pounds upon the sun.
OPINIONS DIFFER
AS TO ALLOWING
ALIENS TO FISR
KETCHIKAN NEWSPAPER SAYS
PROTEST FROM WRANGELL
IS WRONG.
SHARP REPLY MADE TO THIS.
Regulations on Subject Are Careful
in Requiring Compliance to Various
Details by Those Em proving For
eigners.
Diversity of opinion exists in the
fishing communities of southeastern
Alaska regarding the action of the
federal government in granting, under
certain conditions, licenses to fish to
Austrian alien enemies.
Citizens of Wrangell at a mass
meeting vigorously condemned the
federal regulation.
The Ketchikan Miner finds fault
with the position assumed by the
Wrrangell citizens. The Ketchikan
Miner says:
“The fishermen who oppose the fed
eral regulation take a wrong notion.
It has never been said that men would
be brought to Alaska to do the work
that Alaskans can do; but rather the
work they cannot do. With the draft
ing of fishermen for service, there is
bound to be a shortage of labor. This
is the shortage the government pro
poses attending to by the importation
of men who otherwise cannot be used
in military service.
No Harm to Alaskans.
“No Alaska fishermen will be de
prived of fishing, provided they want
to fish. Aside from that we should
not be unmindful of the fact that at
least GO per cent of the fishermen in
Alaska are men who have only taken
their first papers to become citizens.
They made their appearance in Alas
ka without any opposition from the
citizens. Why should they object to
newcomers. The latter may become
good citizens also and just as useful
to the country as most of those who
object to their coming.
“However, the government knows
best and if Alaska needs more fisher
men, Alaska shall have them.”
In answer to the argument of the
Ketchikan Miner the Wrangell Senti
nel says:
“The Ketchikan Miner patronizing
ly claims that the Wrangell people in
asking that no alien Austrians be
brought into the country are all
wrong.
“The Miner claims that there is a
shortage of labor, and that the im
portation of alien Austrians will meet
the needs of the country.
Draft Number Is Small.
“The Sentinel in answer to the
above would call attention to the
fact that the number of men wTho will
be token by the draft from Alaska is
very small; and that, as all the na
tives are fishermen and are not sub
ject to the draft, the loss from Alas
ka’s fishing force on account of the
draft will be practically nothing.
“The Sentinel would ask the Miner
or any one else to give illustrations
of nets owned by canneries, that can
neries wished to use, that ever went
begging for fishermen.
“We have it from good authority
that at times last summer fishing
boats were limited to 600 fish a day
because the canneries could not use
them. Instead of being too few fish
ermen there were too many.
“What possibly could have pi’ompt
ed the canneries to ask for more fish
ermen ?
Fair Return for Labor.
“Last summer was the first summer
that the average fisherman in Alaska
ever received a fair return for his la
bor. Some of the canneries were glad
to see this. They are not asking for
Austrian fishermen now'. Other can
neries apparently begrudge the fish
ermen the privilege of getting a fair
return for their labor, and, so in order
to beat down the price of fish, are rea
dy to expose their canneries, and oth
er Alaska property, and Alaska’s food
products to the danger of sabotage.
“This is the way it looks to the
Sentinel, and it suggests that the
fishermen and business men who are
really interested in Alaska do not for
a minute stop the agitation.
“Does our food administration real
ize what the danger of sabitage is,
in the employment of alien enemies?
Constantly Being Shifted.
“Crews of fishermen are continual
ly being shifted from one fishing place
to another. It is practically impossi
ble to watch alien fishermen. The
evil-minded would be free to do all
the damage they pleased.
“Then again, suppose one of these
men should be employed in a cannery.
How easy it would be to introduce poi
son into the cans, or to derange the
machinery.
“If America wins the war, and of
course it will, it must protect special
ly the industries that provide food for
its people and its armies.”
Representations from big fishing
interests that among Alaska fisheries
there is an extensive dependence on
the services of Austrian-born fisher
men were what led the government
to undertake to relieve the alleged
serious situation by permitting Aus
trians to fish in Alaskan waters. The
government made this concession be
lieving that it would thereby prevent
a serious curtailment o Alaska salmon
canning operations which would result
of Alaska canneries were refused the
privilege of importing Austrian fish
ermen.
Memorandum on Subject.
The memorandum of the depart
ment of justice on the subject fol
lows:
“The employers engaged in the can
ning and fishing industry in Alaskan
waters desirous of employing Aus
| trian alien enemies will at their early j
| convenience please furnish this office;
1 with the names of their respective ]
| companies, places of incorporation, j
| principal officers, the nationality of j
| the several officers of the corpora-i
1 tion and a statement as to whether i
; any of the stock of the corporation is ;
; owned, controlled or indirectly held
j for any alien person or persons, and j
; the location of canneries and plants in !
I Alaskan waters.
“The employers will please furnish
at their early convenience a list of the
Austrian aliens whom they wish to
employ, together with a certificate
that they have caused a careful exam
ination to be made as to the charac
ter of each of the employes recom
mended, and that in the belief of the
officers of the company the persons
! recommended are well disposed to the
i peace and safety of the United States.
“The foregoing facts should be
j sworn to by responsible officers of the
I company, anti the company must fur
i ther obligate itself to the following
I terms and conditions:
| “1. That none but American citi- j
i zens of proved good character and i
| loyalty to the country shall be placed !
I in charge of any boat or boats used in
I the service of the company. The com- i
pany must agree that it will at all
times exercise the highest degree of
care, both in the original employment
and in the services performed by the ,
alien employes of the plant, co-operat- ;
ing with the government officers; j
that they cause to be made a com- j
plete and cai’eful search of the boats !
and euipment used before leaving Pu
get sound waters.
Expense Is on Companies.
“2. The companies will provide, at
their own expense, all data, including
passes showing photographs, personal
description, left thumb print, signa
ture of the fisherman and the recom
mending company, these to be pi'ovid
ed in triplicate, at no expense to the
government.
“3. The employers will, through
out the period of employment and ab
sence in Alaskan waters, maintain a
careful and rigorous censorship of let
ters and packages passing to and from
the aliens mentioned.
“4. The employing companies must
further obligate themselves to pay all
expenses incident to transportation
and maintenance of aliens to and from
Puget sound ports, and that they will
return immediately, at their own ex
pense, any alien shipped by them, at
the request of the United States at
torney, marshal, collector of customs,
or naval intelligence officer in the
western district of Washington, or
United States marshal, or deputy col
lector of customs for Alaskan ports.
Permits will be granted only upon
condition that they can be revoked at
CLOSE BECK
CHILDREN ARE FORBIDDEN TO
ASSEMBLE ON STREET OR
IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
ONE DEATH FROM DISEASE.
Seven Cases Are Reported As Quar
antined—Mayor Issues Proclama
tion As Precaution to Guard Health
of Community.
Owing to the prevalence of diph
theria in Juneau the schools there
were closed for about two weeks re
cently.
Mayor E. Valentine issued the fol
lowing proclamation on the subject:
“Whereas, there has developed a
number of cases of diphtheria within
the town of Juneau, Alaska, and,
“Whereas, it is especially necessary
at this time that every precaution
should be taken to safeguard the
health of the citizens of the town and
to confine the disease as much as pos
sible,
“Now, therefore, it is hereby order
ed that the schools of the city be
closed until further notice; and it is
further ordered that at no public
gathering shall persons be admitted
under eighteen years of age; and it is
further ordered that no children un
der the above-mentioned age be allow
ed to congregate or assemble upon the
streets or in any public building with
thin the said tow-n of Juneau, Alaska."
When the proclamation was issued
there were seven cases in Juneau, and
one man, A. Forsen, has died of the
affection. Those quarantined were
Jennie Foote, Tommy Foote, Jack
Burford, Alfred Nyman, Curtis Frem
ming, Miss Christie and Mrs. J. H.
Humphries.
any time by any of the officers above
mentioned.
All Must Be Approved.
“5. The employers must further
agree that they will not ship or at
tempt to ship any alien enemy not ap
proved by this office.
“6. The employers must further
agree that they will ship no German
alien enemies into Alaskan waters or
employ them without permit of the
local federal authorities.
“7. The employers will assist the
department in the inspection of boats
and have a muster of the crew before
sailing for Alaska, and on arrival in
Alaska have the vessels inspected
and have a muster of the crew before
the customs officers of Alaska or the
United States marshal.
“8. The employers must take such
other action and perform such other
conditions as may be imposed by the
department, either prior to or after
permission is granted to any of the
several alien enemies.”
FANTASTIC STORIES.
Swedish Papers Say Americans Prefer
Suicide to Army Service.
STOCKHOLM, April 12.—The pro
German newspapers in Sweden are
printing fantastic stories regarding
conditions in America. This propa
ganda is designed obviously to awaken
hostility toward the entente powers
and the United States and to offset the
effects unfavorable to Germany caused
by the sinking of Swedish ships and
by the Luxburg affair.
The Nya Dagligt Allehanda prints
an alleged interview with a Swede
lately from America. According to
this unidentified voyager American
soldiers are committing suicide by the
hundreds through fear of submarines;
American provision shops are being
plundered and the proprietors lynched
by the masses; Swedes are faring
hard in America, due to the Luxburg
disclosures; the homes of 59,000 Ger
mans in New York are being watched
by the police and the inhabitants
searched in the streets every time they
leave their houses, and American
newspapers “not owned by British
capital” have disclosed that “the Am
erican embassy in Budapest had been
hoarding bombs.”