The big game of the northwest region, in which I include the interior of Alaska, will go!  It is only a question of time.  Already the building of the city of Fairbanks, and the exploitation of the mining districts surrounding it, have led to such harassment and slaughter of the migrating caribou that the great herd which formerly traversed the Tanana country once a year has completely changed its migration route, and now keeps much farther north.  The “crossing” of the Yukon near Eagle City has been abandoned.  A hundred years hence, the northwestern wilderness will be dotted with towns and criss-crossed with railways; but the big game of it will be gone, except in the preserves that are yet to be made.  This will particularly involve the caribou, moose, and mountain sheep of all species, which will be the first to go.  The mountain goat and the forest bears will hold out longer than their more exposed neighbors of the treeless mountains.

THE MOOSE.—­In the United States the moose is found in five states,—­Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.  There are 550 in the Yellowstone Park.  In Maine and Minnesota only may moose be hunted and killed.  In the season of 1909, 184 moose were killed in Maine,—­a large number, considering the small moose population of that state.  In northern Minnesota, we now possess a great national moose preserve of 909,743 acres; and in 1908 Mr. Fullerton, after a personal inspection in which he saw 189 moose in nine days, estimated the total moose population of the present day at 10,000 head.  This is a moose preserve worth while.

Outside of protected areas, the moose is the animal that is most easily exterminated.  Its trail is easily followed, and its habits are thoroughly known, down to three decimal places.  As a hunter’s reward it is Great.  Strange to say, New Brunswick has found that the moose is an animal that it is possible, and even easy, to protect.  The death of a moose is an event that is not easily concealed!  Wherever it is thoroughly understood that the moose law will be enforced, the would-be poacher pauses to consider the net results to him of a jail sentence.

In New Brunswick we have seen two strange things happen, during our own times.  We have seen the moose migrate into, and permanently occupy, an extensive area that previously was destitute of that species.  At the same time, we have seen a reasonable number of bull moose killed by sportsmen without disturbing in the least the general equanimity of the general moose population!  And at this moment, the moose population of New Brunswick is almost incredible.  Every moose hunter who goes there sees from 20 to 40 moose, and two of my friends last year saw, “in round numbers, about 100!” Up to date the size of adult antlers seem to be maintaining a high standard.

In summer, the photographing of moose in the rivers, lakes and ponds of Maine and New Brunswick amounts to an industry.  I am uneasy about the constant picking off of the largest and best breeding bulls of the Mirimachi country, lest it finally reduce the size and antlers of the moose of that region; but only the future can tell us just how that prospect stands to-day.