20 SPORT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

However, with Teit’s assistance and the use of the
telegraph, I managed to get this matter straightened
out satisfactorily, but an English Colonel of our party,
who had the same trouble, finally had to get a different
guide.

All this naturally put a damper on our spirits, as
it was most important that we should reach the hunting
grounds in good time for the opening of the shooting
season. The various species of game range different
localities, so it is necessary to do a considerable amount
of travelling about in order to secure your full allowance
of specimens. Also the time available for hunting is
none too long, as even as early as October there may be
quite a lot of ice running in the rivers, making the
passage of canoes or boats very difficult ; and it may
sometimes be necessary to await the complete freeze-
up of the river and go out by means of dog sledges.
The undergrowth along the rivers is usually so dense
that the passage is impossible when the river route
cannot be utilised.

Like most of the coast towns of Alaska, Wrangel was
originally founded as a trading station by the Russians,
and many of the local names hereabout remind one of
them. Thus we have Kupreanof Island, to seaward of
the town, and the Chicagof and Baranof Islands,
the latter with the little town of Sitka. On these
islands are found the large brown bears, which usually
are hunted in the spring when they come out on the
“slides.”” They are undoubtedly the largest bears in
the world ; enormous brutes, judging by the skins I
have seen.

As we were obliged to remain in Wrangel for some
days, I spent the time going about the town in company