SPORTING NEYJS .
A PERILOUS GOOSE HUNT IN ARCTIC. (Siberia)
Th© hunting,as wellas the conditions under which we lived, were most arduous.
Z'e were in the midst of swamos and even had to sleep in swamps. But I never
regretted these hardships because of the opportunity to take part in an entei p* xS>
that even few members of regular polar expeditions have had occasion to witness .
Geese cast their feathers in summer - in +his region, between the £th an Of
of July. They molt differently from other birds, losing almost all the feathers
from theit wings simultaneously. During the molting season, therefor^, f.eese
l^se the power of flirht and become helpless until tney grow new feathers.
The fact is well known to the professional and native hunters, who try to tad'
advantage of their opportunity. During the molting season the birds collect in
huge flocks, millions of them, near the sea and along the shore of the Arctic coa.
The hunters knowing where the geese gather, organize hunting parties in boats. The
geese at this olace were simply overwhelming in numbers. Prom afr.r,the flocks
the water appeared like huge islands* Our hunting party of 15 men b.-.r,.ed not IQss
than 4,500 birds. A flock of geese is surrounded by the hunters in their canoes^
while on the other shore the nets are spread like traps, open toward the water. ,
are slowly driven towards the nets and finally chased inside. After the entire ^
flock has entered,the nets are drawn tight, and then the killing begins. This is
by grasping the birds below the head, whirling thes in the air, a.nc. thus urea 1 n^
the neck,which causes instant death. After a few minutes of this work, a moun.c.in
of dead geese begin to pile up alongside the nets. The entire ~oo y is equa j
divided among members of the expedition. The geese are buried in the spot in the
ground, dr, more oroperly speaking, in the mud, and left to rot for several weeKs
until frost sets in. This food is used primarily for the dogs, as it is already
rotted by the time it is dug uo. Still, the hunters themselves by no me.-ns ^ •-lS^/
it; to the native apmetite there is nothing very objectionable in food that is +-1.
.Vladimir Zenzinor - in the "National Geographic
OF^ICdAL INFORMATION. - By Ser reant 'kjor Ross .
Re-enlistment In Alaska -
r’he following telegran received from The Commanding General.
Re-enlistment in Alaska , of enlisted men dischax ae- tnerein u^.der au x ^ J
of letter Headquarters Ninth Corns Area, November twentieth ninetean tv/e..-^ *0u*
prohibited os contrary to br.sic regulations and. inconsxstent vi-n co.-i io^.s u
which authority was rranted. .. . , ..
State Game and ~ish Laws Nrd Operative on a ..iliiary deservu.m.
The fish and vne laws of a State are not operative on a -ili-ary Res or vat 10
over which tha United. States has acquired exclusive jurisdiction, and a war.^n o,
other state -r local officer who persists in attempting to enforce tnoseJLews wit
the limits of such a reservation arter naving bean ordered to desist the. eArom ^
should be removed from the reservation. (Paragraph 81, Compilation of ener 1
orders, Circulars and Bulletins, War Department, 1881-1915, as amende ).
CORPS AREA COLANDERS. ^ (
As the result of recent changes the commanding generals of the
areas will be as follows: First area, Boston, naj. ^un• ® IfWSRoltinore
Area, Governors Island, N.Y., !!j . Gen. Charles P. Summerall; 3rd «*,
isj. Gen. Samel D. Sturgis; 4th area, Atlanta, «*j. Gen. David s Shanks 5tn .r
Fort Hays, Ohio, 15aj. Gen. Omar C. Eundy; 6th area, Chicago, -AJ, C*V
7th area, Omaha| Maj. Gen. George 3. Dur.c^n; 8th area, Fort Sam Houston, Ifaj. Go-.
Earnest Hint’s, and 9th area, Presidio, toij. Gen. Charles T. i-*eno er.
The Hawaiian department will he commanded by *x). Gen. Edward •• Lev ’
Philippine department by . Gen. James H. IJcRea, and the anana ana. e
by Mr. j • Gen* William Lassiter .