Does “subsistence” only mean hunting and fishing for food?
A. Certainly food is one of the most important subsistence uses of wild resources. In the 1990s (the last period for which a comprehensive estimate is available), average rural subsistence harvest statewide was about 375 pounds of food per person per year. That is more than the U.S. average consumption of 255 pounds of domestic meat, fish, and poultry per year. (The average American uses a total of 1,371 pounds of all foods per year.) However, there are other important uses of subsistence products, such as: • Clothing: Wild furs and hides are still the best materials for ruffs (wind guards), mittens, parkas, kuspuks, clothes lining, and mukluks (winter boots) in many regions. • Fuel: Wood is a major source of energy in rural homes, and is also used for smoking and preserving fish and meat. • Transportation: Fish, seals, and other products are used to feed dog teams. • Construction: Spruce, birch, hemlock, willow, and cottonwood are used for house logs, sleds, fish racks, and many other
