ALEUTIAN ISLANDS MOTIVE REPORTS Jal'juary 1945 -DECEMBER 1947 I0 3 a I 3

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ALEUTIAN ISLANDS MOTIVE REPORTS JAl'JUARY 1945 -DECEMBER 1947 I0 3 A i 3 ... 3 ^ ROUTIHG SLIP DIVISIOl OP1 -VILDLIFE REFUGES DATE ;February 5 194 5

m« SALTER ^ SECTION OP HABITAT B-IPROVEIIE^IT:

: PL. ELIIER

, Dr» Bourn

Mice Cook

SECTION OF OPERATIONS: SECTION OF LAND MAHAGffiEUT:

Hr» Regan ViT* Krumrnes

Mr. Ball iilss Baum

SECTION OF STRUCTURES: STENOGRJIPHERS:

I,Ir« Taylor

RH.^RKS Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Narrative Renort

January 1 - December, 31., 19^5

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***** INDEX *****

FORWORD 2 I. GENERAL Weather Conditions , 4 II. WILDLIFE Bird Observations 4 Big Game Animals 8 Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents & Other Mammals9 IV. ECONOMIC USE OF THE REFUGE Fur Harvest , 11 Special Use Permits - F.Y. 1945 12 Special Use Permits, Unimak - F.Y. 1945 13 Special Use Permits - F.Y. 1946 14 Special Use Permits, Unimak - F.Y. 1946 14 VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS Military Restrictions on Fur Farming Activities...15 Letter from Ref. Mgr. to Conmandant 17th ND — re status of iileutian Islands concerning travel and fur farming activities 16 Reply from Commandant 20 Reply from Commanding General, Ft« Richardson 21 VII. OTHER ITEMS Native Villages 22

***** *** * AUSUTIHN ISLiiNDS NATIONiiL WILDLIFE REFUGE **************************** REFUGE NARRATIVE REPORT

FORWORD

Since I have spent only a small period of time on the Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge during Calendar Year 1945, the Refuge Narrative Report, ordinarily submitted quarterly, will be an annual report. Three quarterly reports would merely be repetitious and nothing constructive would be gained by submitting the same infor mation three times. During World War II the Aleutian Chain, including the area set apart as the Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, has been com pletely under Military control and supervision. The time I have spent in that area has been at their discretion and my means of travel from island to island has been almost entirely Military transporta tion — planes or boats — when they happened to be going my way. Naturally under such wartime circumstances any progressive work there has been out of the question. Fox ranching activities have been at a standstill except at the Eastern end of the Refuge. During this past year my actual Refuge work has consisted of sealing fox pelts, collecting sealing fees, taking applications for Special Use Permits, enforcement, handling correspondence relative to conservation, enforce ment and other Refuge matters, etc. While in the .nleutians I endeavour ed to spend the balance of my time gathering by observation and dis cussion with the Military and civilians what information I could on wildlife conditions there. I also tried to educate the people as to the status of blue foxes, impressing on them that these foxes are pri vate property, and cautioned them against killing or taking them as pets. I made contact with numerous military personnel from the West ward, discussing wildlife problems and the necessity for law enforce ment, particularly concerning sea otter and blue fox. During this past year I have also had discussions with the Alaska Indian Service pertinent to the reallocation of islands in the rehabilitation of the Natives. — I will set forth this information in the Narrative Report, following as closely as is practicable the form presented in "Field Manual—Wildlife Refuges". Such information as weather reports or pictures of the Refuge will not be included since military censorship made it impossible to obtain them.

The balance of my time this year has been spent on and in the vic inity of Kodiak Island with such duties as are described by me on Form No. 3-119, Weekly Itinerary and fieport of Activities, submitted monthly to the Regional Office in Juneau, Alaska, NARRATIVE REPORT F07^WORD-Cont»d.

Since I have had the Field Manual for only a few months, this is the first report of this type submitted by me. However, had I been aware of the instructions, strict censorship in defense of our national safety would have forbidden any similar reports of my activities in the Aleutians to be sent out. Should it be the desire of your office to have reports of my previous years on the Refuge, they will be forth coming. Though unorthodox as adjudged by the prescribed form, they should be of some value, as well as be a picture of a Refuge Managers activities during wartime on a National Wildlife Refuge taken over by the Military, Any suggestions as to the form these reports should follow in the event they are desired, will be sincerely appreciated. ALEUTIAN ISLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

REFUGE NARRATIVE REPORT for Jan. 1 — Doc, 31, 1945 *************************************************** I. GENERAL

Ao Weather Conditions, The Refuge does not operate a weather station in the Aleutians, During the war no weather data has been available from stations maintained by other Government agencies. From now on it will be possible, however, with the lifting of military restric tions, to obtain complete weather reports from various stations be tween Attn and Unimak Islands,

II. WILDLIFE

A. Bird Observationso Bird life in the Aleutian area is still a rela tively unknown quantity and information is needed on all species* Therefore, I kept a daily record of observations during the period I spent in the Aleutians between March 30th and May 19th, 1945. The list (which is necessarily terse) identifying the types of birds noted, location and date observed follows:

JPacific Loon: These were seen in the Shumagins, King Cove, False Pass, / Albatross; Saw four to six near Metrofania Island — following ship. /Pelagic Cormorant! Seen plentifully between 3-27 to 4-30-45 in following places: Shumagin Islands, Cold Bay, False Pass, Unalaska, Sanak Island and King Gove. J Geese: King Cove — (5-9&10—45) — flocks of IS and 20 flying high from eastward toward Cold Bay. iMallard: Fa^se Pass — (from 4-4 to 4-13—45)—observed occasional pair. iGreen-Winged Teal: Reported plentiful on Caton, Sanak, and at False Pass this winter. * Scaup: Reported at False Pass during past winter. King Cove — (5-2 & 3 —45)—saw one and two females. ^Qolden-gye, Common: Caton Island — (4-18-45) — two females on lake. King Cove — (5-7-45) — one female. i Harlequin: Noted that this bird was plentiful in the following places: False Pass (4-4 to 13—45), Sanak Island, (4-14-45), Caton Island (4-15 to 21 —45), King Cove (4-21-to 30—i5) & (5-1 to 10—15. Also 5-12-45) jBuffle-Head; Observed two pairs at Sanak Island (4-14-45). Observed eight pairs Caton Island (4-15 to 20—45)-cont,d next page< NARRATIVE REPORT II. WILDLIFE -Cont»d.

King Cove — (5-3-45) — saw one pair in lagoon. «w — (5-7-45) — " seven males and one female« / White-Winged Scoter; Cold Bay — (3-31-45) —scattered birds. False Pass — (3-31-45) — scattering to plentiful. " « — (4-4 to 14—45) — plentiful. Sanak — (4-15-45) — plentiful. Caton Island (4-15 to 21 —45) — plentiful. King Cove — (4-21 to 5-4-45) — plentiful. * » — (5-6,7,508—45)—three or four juveniles after 4th. No adult males this area. w n —(5-12-45) — three adult males only with group of American Scoter. fV H " — (5-14&15—45) — four juveniles. • yAmerican Scoter; Cold Bay —(3-31-45) — scattered. False Pass —(3-31-45) — plentiful. •» w — (4-4 to 13—45) — plentiful. Cold Bay — (4-11-45) — plentiful. Sanak Island — (4-14-45) — plentiful. Caton Island (4-15 to 21—45) — plentiful. King Cove — (4-21 to 30—45) — plentiful. » » — (5-1- to 12—45) — male and female adults still moderately plentiful in this area, though decreasing in numbers. " " (5-14 & 15—45) — small groups of four and five / each. / Old Squaw; Sand Point —(3-28-45) — heard in vicinity. Unalaska — (4-2-45) — common. False Pass — (4-4 to 13—45) — common. Cold Bay — (4-11-45) — common. Caton & Sanak Islands — (4-15 to 21—45) — common. King Cove — (4-21 to 30—45) — common. " n — (5-1 to 3—45) — common. Last seen on third at King Cove. Stellar,s Eider; False Pass — (3-31-45) — saw eight adult males and twelve females. False Pass — (4-4 to 13—45) —common. Adult males are still present• Sanak Island — (4-14-45) — adult males and females observed. j. King Eider; Cold Bay at Kelp Point — (3-31-45) — scattered. False Pass near Whirl Point — (3-31-45) — scattered adult males, but mostly juveniles and females. False Pass — (4-4 to 13—45) — juveniles and females abundant* Scattered adult males—three on 9th and same on 13th, King Cove — (4-28-45) — one male and five females, « » —. (5-14, 15, & 16—45) — one juvenile male and three juvenile females — lagoon. NARRATIVE REPORT II. WILDLIFE—Cont'd.

^ Pacific Elder; Cold Bay — (3-31-45) — scattering with adult male seen occasionally. False Pass to Unalaska — (4-1-45) — several flying in Ikatan Bay, adult males. False Pass — (4-4 to 13—45) — occasional adult males with small flock females. Cold Bay — (4-11-45) — five adult males and six females off Kelp Point. J Merganser; King Cove — (5-7-45) — four females or juveniles in lagoon, / King Cove — (5-10-45) — one pair, also in lagoon, y Raven; Kodiak to Unalaska and return — abundant, y Falcon; Caton Island — (4-18-45) — one bird, (dark cheek patch, brown body). King Cove — (5-18-45) — one l?ird same description as above pursuing Willcw Ptarmigan/ i Bald Eagle; False Pass — (3-31-45) — three flying. Unalaska — (4-2-45) — common. False Pass — (4-4 to 13—45) — common. Caton Island — (4-15 to 21—45) — common. King Cove — (4-21-45 to 4-30-45) — common. J " " ~ (5-1 to 15—45) — common. ^Ptarmigan; Reported plentiful in the following places: Popof Island, Unga Island, King Gove, Cold Bay, Belkofski, Pavlof Bay, Unalaska, False Pass. Very rare on Sanak Island. King Cove — (4-25 & 26—45) — saw several singles and pairs of Willow Ptarmigan and Rocks. « « — (5-1,2 & 3—45) — heard calling from mountainside. Seem to be abundance of them, though not in flocks; singles, pairs and groups of three or four each. v/Oyster Catcher; Sanak Island — (4-14-45) — there were six in harbor. Caton Island — (4-15-45) — there were four in harbor, /Aleutian Sandpiper: False Pass — (4-4 to 13—45) — saw scattered pairs and small flocks on beach. Caton Island — (4-18-45) — saw them occasionally. King Cove — (4-27-45) — saw three pairs on beach. None on tundra. " " — (5-12-45) — noted calling on open tundra and high plateau for first time at King Cove. Evidently preparatory to nesting. Heavy winds made previous observation very uncertain. Least Sandpiper; Caton Island — (4-18-45) — one on tundra. King Cove — (5-11-45)— one on beach. " •* — (5-12-45)— one on beach. NARRATIVE REPORT II• WILDLIFE-Cont•d. Wandering Tattler; King Cove — (5-7-45) — one on lagoon beach. King Cove — (5-11-45) — three birds — beach, « « — (5-12-45) — groups of three, two, two, and two singles, n « (5-13,14 & 15—45) — several groups as above. y Pigeon GuiHarriot; Sanak and Caton Is* — (4-14 to 20—45) — occasional, Several off Shumagin Islands, Metrofania, also farther dbwn coast nearer Kodiak, (5-17 and 18—45), / Ancient Murrelet; Thin Point vicinity — (4-11-45) — several small groups of three to seven observed. Between Pankof end Sanak — (4-14-45) — six. y Auklet; Observed one white-bellied at Thin Point — (4-1-45). Observed same also off Akutan-Akun. (4-4-45), S Horned Puffin: Sana! Harbor — (4-14-45) — common, (5- 17 & 18 — 45) — commonly seen from King Cove to Kodiak, Tufted Puffin: Sanak Harbor — (4-14-45) — common, same as ^ Horned variety. S Kingfisher: False Pass — (4-7-45) — one observed. Magpie; Sandpoint — (3-29, 30—45) — common. */ King uove — (4-21 to 30—45) — common " " — (5-1 to 13—45) — common, V Black-Capped Chickadee: King Cove — (4-21 to 30—45) several in alders almost daily. King Cove — heard one in slders. (5-7-45) > Water-Ouzel: King Cove — (5-13-45)— one bird. Hermit Thrush: King Cove — (5-15-45) — first of the season. Heard six or more in the morning. Thought heard one yesterday. ^ Pipit: King Cove — (5-11-45) — three today - first of the season. King Cove — (5-12-45) — dozen or more today; well-established on beaches and higher plateau country. Cheery song heard frequently. King Cove — (5-13-45) — abundant. " " — (5-14, 15 & 16—45) — abundant. Rosy Finch: Unalaska — (5-2-45) — plentiful. Sanak — (4-15 & 16-45) — occasional pairs and singles. Caton Island — (4-15 to 20—45) — occasional pairs and singles; appear to be nesting. King Cove — (4-21 to 30—45) — occasional. More plentiful at higher levels. « n — (5-9-45) — one flying over village, ft — (5-12-45) — one flying. ^ Poll: False Pass — (4-10-45) — heard several flying. King Cove — (4- 21 to 30—45) — common in singles and small flocks, " « (5-1,2,3,10 & 11—45) — several daily, (5-12-45)—flock of ten on high plateau. Many singles and pairs lower down — all dark birds, not hoary species, " ft — (5-13,14,15 & 16—45) — plentiful. 8

NARRATIVE REPORT

II. WILDLIFE-Cont1d•

J Savannah Sparrow; King Cove — (5-11-45) — first of the season this day; one single and one pair on beach, picking from beach line trash. King Cove — (5-12-13—45) — none these days. " " — (5-14-45) — saw dozen or more. « — (5-15-45) — plentiful. — (5-16-45) — plentiful. / Golden-Crowned Sparrow: King Cove — (5-14-45) — first of the season this day as wind changed from Northeast to Southeast last evening. King Cove — (5-15 & 16—45) — plentiful, v Fox Sparrow: King Cove — (5-13-45) — first of the season. King Gove — (5-14-45) — dozens today. " " — (5-15 8c 16—45) — very plentiful. ^Sanak Song Sparrow: False Pass — (3-31-45) — observed some. Unalaska — (4-2&3—45) — plentiful. False Pass —(4- 5 to 13—45) —common. Sanak Island — (4-14&15—45) — common Caton Island — (4-15 to 21—45) — comiaon. King Cove — (4-21 to 30—45) — common. " " — (5-11 & 12—45) — saw one each day. " " — (5-15-45) — four this day. / Aleutian Longspur: Caton Island — (4-12-45) — Navy Stations re ported seeing a flock of birds described to resemble this bird. King Cove — (4-30-45) — observed two adult males, first of the season. No more observed during remainder of time spent at King Cove. •/Snow Bunting: Unalaska — (4-2-45) — several seen. False Pass — (4-4 to 13—45) — small flocks and pairs. Sanak — (4-14-45) — several about village. King Cove — (4-21—30—45) — several observed daily. " n — (5-1 to 10, & 12, 13, 14, 15—45) five to six pairs daily.

C. Big Game ^.nimals

l.« Alaska Brown Bear; Within the Refuge this animal is found on Uni mak Island only. Judging by all reports from Special Use Per mittees, fishermen, and other residents of Unimak, it would seem that the bear is present in more abundance than in past years. This condition prevails also all along the Alaska Peninsula. No dependable estimate as to actual numbers is available. NARRATIVE REPORT

II. WILDLIFE -Cont'd.

2.J Caribou; These are still present in abundance on UniDHlc Island though suffering somewhat from setbacks during the severe winters of 1942-43 and 1943-44 when hundreds perished from starvation and exposure, .ilso during the winter of 1942-43 wolves emigrated to the Island and have been responsible for further depletion of the herds. Loss from wolf kills are not great at this time since wolves are still present in small numbers — probably only two or three families — but these will become a very serious menace in the future if they are permitted to increase.

Caribou range over the whole of Unimak Island in herds of fifteen to three and four hundred each. They have not been frequent ing the East end of the island in large numbers as in the past but are known to be present in abundance on the Western end and in the more rolling tundra between Shishaldin Volcano and Pogromni. Observation and patrol pilots flying out of Gold Bay report seeing several large herds in that area.

The actual number of caribou on Unimak is not known but are thought to be in the neighborhood of 2500 animals. No disease has been noted. Reindeer: The herds on tka Island are reported increasing and J ;i doing well in spite of some loss during military occupation. No actual count or dependable estimate is available at this time. D. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents, and other Marfjmals.

1, y^ed Fox: The red fox is reported in abundance on Unimak Island. These foxes range the entire island but concentrate more or less along the coastal margin where feed is always available as provided by the set..? Trappers report tJnimak to be somewhat overpopulated \ ith foxes as it has been trapped only sketchily since 1938. Most of the trapping has been done on the Eastern quarter of the island where population is centered. Consequently the other three-quarters has remained almost wholly untouched. Unimak is capable of producing a thousand or more pelts each year without undue strain on the breeding stock. For the past four or more years only 300 or more pelts have been taken annually.

Predation on bird life is negligible as it affects overall pop ulation. Ptarmigan withstand all the fox can offer without notice able damage. Other bird life is similarly unaffected. Unimak is not considered an outstanding bird island. 10

NARRATIVE REPORT II. WILDLIFE-Cont * d.

We have no Information regarding red foxes on Chuginadak or silvers on ^mlia. There is a strong likelihood that red pups kept as pets by military personnel have been released on some of the blue fox islands. The extent of this introduction is not known but the matter is being investigated and steps taken to correct it.

2./ Blue Fox: Since the beginning of the war all blue fox ranch ac tivities have been frozen west of the Sanak Island Group with the exception of the islands of Seguam and Samalga which were re leased from military restrictions this fiscal year (1945). Blues have suffered somewhat from molestation by military personnel oc cupying the various islands but on the main are reported doing re markably well. Many of the islands are reported overstocked and badly in need of having livestock removed.

3. Mink, Land Otter, weasel: These are reported in limited numbers on Unimak Island. They are not trapped legally but seem to main tain a constant population despite annual poaching. Special Use Permittees take them along with red foxes and dispose of them through friends on the Mainland. Insofar as niink and land otter continually migrate between the Mainland and Unimak it is doubted that there is any benefit derived from giving them protection on the Refuge. It is the opinion of the Refuge Mnnager that they should be allowed to be taken on Unimak along with the red foxes.

There is no dependable information available as to the actual abundance of these three species except that the two species of weasel are known to be uniformly abundant and that mink and land otter are present only in limited numbers and areas.

4. v/Sea Otter: Concentrated mainly in the vicinity of Amchitka Island and Rat Island though scattered throughout the Aleutian Refuge in limited numbers. They are reportedly doing very well and increas ing in numbers despite disturbance by war activities. The Military have been well informed as to the status and economic importance of sea otter conservation and have been very cooperative in pro tecting and conserving them in the areas where they come in contact with them.

No check on actual population was made this year though many reliable reports by military observers in the vicinity of ^mchitka, Rat, Kiska, O^lluga, and Tanaga Islands, indicate that they have increasecT in numbers since the war. It is encouraging to note that extensive human activities in the immediate vicinity of their maximum concentration has had no appreciable effect on reproduction and increase. 11

N/J3RATIYE REPORT

II. WILI^LIFE-Cont'd. 5. /Wolverine: Within the Refuge found only on Unimak Island. Jud ging by reports submitted by residents of the Island they show an increase comparable to that of the brown bear and are much more plentiful than they have been in the past. J Solves* Mthin the Refuge present only on Unimak. Were first ob served during an especially cold winter — 1941—42 — when ice blocked the channel for many consecutive weeks affording them easy access from the Mainland to Unimak. Since that time they have increased in numbers. Trappers have seen them frequently on the Eastern end of the island — on several occasions as many as three or four in a group. The lighthouse keepers at the Western end

,u of the island also report having seen wolves. Trappers have re ported that in addition to their depredation of caribou, wolves are also charged with digging out home dens of red fox and land otter burrows. They may become a serious menace to future trap ping activities. Up to the present time there has been only one wolf killed, and because of the scarcity in the past of steel traps, no concerted or organized effort has been made by the trap pers to reduce their numbers. 7,/ Ground Squirrel (Citellus Sp.): Abundant on Unimak, Sanak Group and on several small islands of the Refuge. Constant population.

IV. ECONOMIC USE OF REFUGE

C» Fur Harvest: Special Use Permits for trapping red foxes and kill ing two caribou on Unimak Island, and Permits to raise blue foxes on Refuge Islands, are issued on a fiscal year basis. Lists for the two fiscal years are therefore included in this report. In both cases Unimak Island is included separately. 1944-45 is complete, showing total numbers of pelts taken, total fees for leases and sealing. 1945-46, of course, cannot be finished until the end of the fiscal year. In studying Form NR-4 "SMALL MAMMALS", it was found inapplicable to our present situation, so a more suitable form was devised.

r ' Maximum number of red foxes permitted taken by each Pemittee on Unimak Island has been increased from 50 to 100 for Fiscal Year 1946. This increase over past years was approved by the Director upon recommendation by the Refuge Manager whose decision was based upon reports of increasing fox population and small takes since the war. another influencing factor was the claim by trappers that they could not afford to outfit themselves for trapping remote parts of the island when their maximum take of fifty pelts sold from ^5.00 12

NARRATIVE REPORT

IV. ECONOMIC USE OF REFUGE

to #8,00 only. A stronger inducement was needed to put trappers into the relatively remote and inaccessible parts of Unimak and re lieve the pressure on the much trapped Eastern end of the island.

SPECIAL USE PERMITS — FISCaL YEAR 1945

; Special Use :Sealing :Lease :Name of : Permit Pelts ^ees :Fee Island :Permittee . Numbers : Taken Collected:Collected

Unimak : (See following :page) :294 reds 4P294.00 none Gaton :John Olsen : 19 blues 19.00 : #25.00 Saranna:John Olsen : 5 " 5.00 #25.00 Trithe -.John Holmberg 0 ; none ^25.00 Mary : James Young 0 : none .#25.00 Sisters:Chris Gunderson Jr. 8 " ; 8.00" |25.00 Samalga:Mrs. A. C. Goss : 71 " 71.00: 125.00 Seguam :Mrs. A. 0. Goss 171 " : 171.00- #25.00

8 islands, ,29 Permits (Includ 568 pelts...#568.00...#175.00 ing Unimak listed • on next page) 13

NARRATIVE REPORT

IV. ECONOMIC USE OF REFUGE - Cont'd,

UNIKAK ISLAND — FISCiOL YEAR 1945

No. of Fees ; Caribou Permit No. : Name of Permittee Pelts Collected ; Taken

2125 Snil Gunderson ; 0 none j 0 2126 John Shellikoff ; 14 ! #14.00 2 2127 : George Peterson ! 42 42.00 :: 2 2128 ; Henry Peterson ; 50 50,00 : 2 2129 John Gardener, Jr. ; 22 : 22,00 2 2130 John Gardener 0 ; none 0 2131 Ernest Newman : 17 17,00 1 2132 Arthur R, Newman 16 16,00 : 2 2133 ; John Hodiakoff : 14 14,00 : 2 2134 George Shellikoff : 0 none 2 2135 : John Garasmoff : 0 none : 0 2136 Antone Nozikoff 24 24.00 ; 2 2137 Johnny Hoblet ; 0 none 0 2138 : Johnny Ferguson 12 : 12,00 2 2139 George Kochutin 28 28,00 2 2140 : Oscar Vanner : 3 : 3,00 : 0 2141 Nick Kristensen 34 34.00 ; 2 2142 Albert Olsen : 8 : 8.00 1 2143 : George Jackson 7 : 7.00 2 2144 : Peter Yetchmenoff : 3 3.00 1 2145 : Fred Johnson : 0 : none 0 2146 Tom Hoblet, Jr, 0 none : 0

Permittees .294 pelts... .^5294.00, ,27 (red foxes) caribou

Note; at the Western end of the island a total of caribou were taken on three additional Special Use Permits (for taking of two caribou only per permit) issued to personnel of the Scotch Cap and Saricheff Lighthouses. 14 NAHRATIVE REPORT

IV. ECONOI-aC USE OF REFUGE-Cont1 d.

SPECIAL USE PERiHTS FISCAL YEAR 1946

Island Permit No. : Permittee : Lease Fees Collected

Unimak 23 permits listed separately below None Sisters 1082 : Chris Gunderson, Jr. ^25.00 Mary 1083 : James Young : ^25.00 Trithe ; 1084 : John Holmberg #25.00 Saranna 1085 : John Olsen #25.00 Gaton 1086 : John Olsen #25.00 Number of Permits Is sued (including Unimak) 28 Total Fees #125.00

SPECIAL USE PERMITS — FISCAL YEAR 1946 (UNIMaK)

Permit Number Permittee

2150 Odd Steffensen 2151 John Hodiakoff 2152 ; Nick Kristensen 2153 John Garasmoff 2154 ; George Shellikoff 2155 Ernest Newman 2156 : A. R. Newman 2157 : Henry Peterson 2158 Emil Gunderson 2159 John Shellikoff 2160 : Antone Nozikoff 2161 : Oscar Vanner 2162 ; George Peterson 2163 : John Ferguson 2164 : Albert Olsen 2165 : Peter Yatchmeneff 2166 : John Gardner, Jr. 2167 ; Nick Hansen 2168 : John Carlson 2169 : George Kochuten 2170 : Fred Johnson 2171 : John Gardener, Sr. 2172 : Steven Kristensen Total of 23 permittees included in above total. 15

VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS

G. Military Restrictions on Fur Farming Activities: At the close of the war I contacted both Navy and Army in person and by letter as to the status of postwar fur farming activities and travel in the nleutians. Copies of my letter to the Commandant, 17th Naval District, Naval Operating Base, Kodiak, Alaska (letter giving id entical information and making identical requests far information was sent to the Commanding General, Alaskan Department, Fort Rich ardson, Alaska, on the same date) and replies from him and Ft. Rich ardson, follow. It is felt that you will get the whole picture in more detail from these three letters, than if I write a general sum mary. (See next page.) IN REPLY REFER TO 16

€ : 0 : UNITED STATES : F : DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

ALASKA GAME COMMISSION Kodiak, Alaska Oct. 31, 1945

Commandant 17th Naval District Naval Operating Base Kodiak, Alaska

Dear Sir: Reference is made to your recent letter identified by File Code ND17/L20/;}I, RW/bha, Serial 003931, concerning "Release of Islands of the Aleutian Chain from Military Restrictions on Trapping and Inter-Island Travel". „ In compliance with your request additional and more detailed in formation is furnished as follows. The Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, was created by Executive Order of March 3, 1913, and is described as a chain of islands extending westward 1200 miles from Unimak Island on the east, and Attu Island on the west and is maintained for the protection of native birds and game animals (blue foxes ara farmed on many of them). By Executive Order of November 23, 1928, the islands of Akun, Akutan, Sanak, Tagalda, Umnak, and Unalaska in cluding Sedanka or Biorka Island, and by Executive Order of December 19, 1929, a portion of Ameknak Island were eliminated from the Reservation and transferred to the jurisdiction of the General Land Office. By Executive Order of April 7, 1930, Amak Island, the Sealion Rocks, and a small unnamed island lying southeast of Amak were added to the Reservation.

The Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service issues permits to utilize for fox ranching purposes certain of the Reservation islands as have been determined to be more suitable for fur farming than for wildlife conservation purposes. The present policy of the Fish and Wildlife Ser vice is to give primary consideration to the welfare of native villages and communities of the Aleutian Chain with respect to leasing the islands. Permits or leases involving a native or native interest are issued only for the benefit of the village of which he is a member. Consideration is given individual white men and fur ranching companies only after native interests are cared for. No permit to engage in fox ranching activities on Refuge Islands or parts thereof shall be sold, bartered, exchanged, or transferred by the per mittee to another, without first furnishing the said Regional Director with 17 :0: :P: :T: 2 Coram. 17th ND, NOB 1-31-45,

full details of such proposed transactions and obtaining his consent thereto,

Nothing in the Regulations for the Aleutian Islands Reservation and no permits issued thereunder shall be construed to forbid or interfere with official operations within the reservation or on any island covered by a permit thereunder by any department, bureau, or agency of the Federal Grovernment, and no charge, rental, fee, or compensation for such govern ment activities or claims for damages shall lie or be made, or allowed any permittee thereunder, for or on account of such governmental use or activity.

When military activities in the Aleutian Islands closed that area to fox farming activities approximately thirty islands of the Aleutian Reservation were being utilized for fox ranching purposes. An average of #100,000.00 worth of fox pelts were being produced annually. Revenue from the fur farm industry provided the principal source of income and backbone of subsistence for native communities throughout the Aleutian Chain. Now that the communities have been rehabilitated to their Aleut ian Island homes it is necessary to revive the fur farming industry and provide the means of making them less dependent on government relief. It is with this thought in mind that the Fish and Wildlife Service requests an official statement from you :.s to which of the following Aleutian Islands Reservation islands will be permitted for use in fox ranching operations:

(2)-KRINITZEN IS. GROUP Caton Is, : Avatanak Is, : Samalga Is, Saranna Is, : Ugamak Is. : Unalga (east) Is, Mary Is. : Rootok Is. ; Sisters Is. : j Trithe Is. :

UMMTS^ ffioup _ _ (5)-iiNDRMNOFF IS, GROUP Kagamil Is. Atka Is, Tanaga Is, Kagalaska Is, Yunaska Is, Amlia Is, Kanu Is, •^dak Is, Chuginadak Is, Chugul Is, Tanaklak Is, Kanaga Is, Little Tanaga Is, Igitkin Is, Umak Is. Tagadak Is, Seguam Is, Tagalak Is, Great Sitkin Is, ieX-mmjiSLAm GROUP _ attu Is, Rat Island Agattu Is, Semichi Is, or any part of them. For your convenience in deciding this matter the following background material on fox ranching operations is provided; C: 18 : :i©:: :T: 3 Coinm.l7th ND, NOB 10-31-45

1...First the prospective rancher leases a Refuge island and follows up by securing a Fur Farm License to keep foxes in captivity for purpose of propagation. Both lease and license are secured from the Fish and Wildlife Service.

2...Stocking his fur farm island with foxes comes next. If the island is already stocked, as most of the iJLeutian Island Refuge islands are, he will possibly look to improving his strain of foxes by bringing in new and better breeding animals. If the island is not stocked and has no foxes on it, the permittees' first job is to secure breeding animals of a desir able strain and transport them to the island where they are released to breed and multiply.

3...It is the accepted practice in the Aleutian area to release foxes on the islands and permit them free access to the entire island where they exist in a free state and confined only by the natural boundaries of the island. Island foxes are almost wholly dependant upon the sea and a margin of beach line for a livelihood; they are beachcombers even to building their home-dens where pups are born and raised within a narrow margin of beach line seldom more than -|- mile wide. The fox farmer and trapper also confines his activities to this same area and except when taking a short cut from one section of the island to another seldom visits the interior.

4...When the island is sufficiently stocked with foxes the permittee prepares to take off by trapping as large a number of animals as he thinks the island will stand and still maintain a supply of breeders for future increase. The permittee or trapper seldom or never lives on his fox is land except in the few instances where native villages are situated on Refuge islands. Attu and Atka are examples. It is necessary, therefore, - that the permittee or trapper transport himself, or secure transportation from some established source, from his home village to fox island.

5...In the past transportation has been provided by a small privately owned motorship which picked trappers up at their home villages of Attu, Atka, Unalaska, Nikolski, and Akutan, etc. and transported them to their respective islands. Two trips were made each winter, the first about November 1st when they were placed on their islands, and the second about January 15th when they were removed from their islands and returned to their home villages. Trappers or permittees were on their fox islands approximately three months out of the year. It is understood that future transportation will be provided in the same manner unless military reg ulations and restrictions prohibit.

6...During the three months trappers and permittees are engaged in fox ranching activities on their islands they reside in small trapping shacks and native barabaras erected along the beach. The number of shacks depends upon the size and nature of the island—from two to four shacks is the usual number/ The careful and conscientious trapper takes his fur :Q): :T: 4 Comm.17th ND, NOB 10-31-45.

(6...cont'd.) by trapping with steel traps or snares set along fox trails bordering the beach while a few indifferent trappers shoot their foxes with small calibre rifles. At the end of the trapping season all steel traps are gathered up and left in storage on the island. 7...The number of trappers or permittees on an island at one time is from one to six as a general average. Women or girls seldom or never ac company their men folk to the fox islands as all activities are conducted by men and boys. 8...On a Refuge Island fox farm in good standing all foxes are the private and personal property of the permittee subject only to certain specific regulations of the Fish and Wildlife Service. In summary, the Fish and Wildlife Service is in need of official information in the fom of an official statement from the U. S. Army and the U. S. Navy concerning the future disposition of the said Aleutian Re fuge Islands as it affects leasing and operating them as fox farm islands. Do you sanction release of all of the islands? If not, which of the islands will you release in whole or in part? How soon after release of islands will fox farmers be permitted to visit and survey his island for future operations? What restrictions will be put on necessary traveling in conjunction with operating and trapping the respective islands.

For your information as suggested by you in your October 16 letter, we are today also wtiting an identical letter to the Commanding General, Alaskan Department, incorporating all of the above information and mak ing a request of their official statement re release of islands in Aleut ian Chain from military restrictions on trapping rights and inter-island travel. Very sincerely yours.

i^RANK L. BEAIS Refuge Manager Fish and Wildlife Service :GC : 20 :GD: a>: iff: HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH NAVAL DISTRICT Add.Reply to FLEET POST OFFICE Commandant-Refer to Seattle, Washington ND17/L20/QJ RRL/jdp Serial: 004295 13 November 1945

My dear Mr. Beals: This letter refers to yours of 31 October 1945 outlining specifically the desires of the Fish and Wildlife Service concerning release of islands in the Aleutian Chain from mil itary restrictions on trapping rights and inter-island travel. It is understood that an identical letter of even date has been written to the Commanding Cxeneral of the Alaskan Department. The Commandant has no objection to releasing immed iately the islands of the six groups enumerated in paragraph six of your letter from military restrictions on trapping rights and travel to and from these islands, subject to the following restrictions: (a) Naval and military installations on the islands will remain "out of bounds" to trappers and supporting ves sels and personnel. (b) The Navy will not be held resyonsible for rescue of individuals engaged in trapping or operating vessels in support thereof who may need succor. (c) The Fish and Wildlife Service will keep the Commandant informed in general concerning leases and rights granted to trappers and specifically concerning prospective and actual movements of supporting vessels. It must be understood that statements contained in this letter reflect only the attitude Of the Commandant regarding trap ping rights and inter-island travel. Before proceeding with your plan for reissuing leases and permitting inter-island travel, it will be necessary to obtain concurrence of i^rmy authorities. k copy of this letter has been forwarded to the Com manding General of the ^laskan Department.

/s/ Mr. Frank Beals RALPH ^00D Refuge Manager Fish and Wildlife Service Kodiak, Alaska 21 (2 :

Headquarters Alaskan Department OFFICE CLF THE COSMANDING GENERAL /LPO 942, c/o Postmaster, Seattle, Washington

24 November 1945

Mr. Frank L. ^eals Refuge Manager Fish and Wildlife Service Kodiak, Alaska

Dear Mr. Beals: In reply to your letter of 31 October 1945 the Commanding General has directed me to inform you that mili tary restrictions concerning fox farming on and travel to the Aleutian Islands have been lifted subject to the following conditions: a. Shemya is not available for fox farming or trapping. b. Trappers and fox farmers will not encroach on, interfere with, or tamper with military or naval installations or equipment located on any island. Very truly yours.

hi W. L. COLEMAN Colonel, AGD Adjutant General 22

VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS

A. Items of Interest 1. Native Villages; During the month of April 1945, the village of Atka on Atka Island was rehabilitated at it's former site in Nazan Bay. Seventy-two (72) Aleuts returned to take up their former homes which are being rebuilt and improved by the Alaska Indian Service.

Attu Village on Attu Island was completely destroyed and it's inhabitants taken prisoner by the Jappmese when they invaded the Aleutian Islands. They are now repattiated but have not been re habilitated to their former homes. More specific information will be available in the near future. Other villages not situated on Refuge Islands but which are closely associated with the Refuge economically have been rehab ilitated to their former homes as follows during the month of April 1945: Unalaska Village 126 natives returned. Nikolsky Village on Umnak Island 54 natives returned. Akutan Village on Akutan Island 65> natives returned. Biorka, Kashiga, Makushin Villages have been quartered temporarily with the Akutan Village.

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Kodiak, Alaska January 21, 1945 Note: At your request this report is being mailed to you direct without first sending it to the Regional Office at Juneau for approval. RO copy is 'RiiNK L. BiALS also being mailed to them today. Refuge Manager