BOTANY OF YAKUTAT BAY, ALASKA. 
1.—FIELD REPORT. 
By FREDERICK FUNSTON. 
In accordance with my commission and letter of instructions to pro- 
ceed to Yakutat Bay, Alaska, and make a collection of the plants of 
that vicinity, I took passage from San Francisco on the Coast Survey 
steamer Hassler, having purchased a camp outfit and hired a laborer to 
accompany me on the trip as cook and general camp employee. The 
Hassler sailed April 16, 1892, and on her way north touched at Port 
Townsend, Victoria, Departure Bay, Port Simpson, and Sitka, arriving 
at Yakutat Bay May 19, after a voyage of thirty-three days. On the 
night following our arrival there arose a heavy southeasterly wind, 
accompanied by rain, which continued with great violence for five days; 
so that it was not until May 25 that I was able to establish my camp on 
shore. In order to have some place suitable for storing supplies and 
caring for specimens, I rented from the natives a house situated in the 
smaller of their two villages, on Khantaak Island; the larger village 
being on the mainland, distant about a mile. 
The Indians, of whom about two hundred live in the vicinity of 
Yakutat Bay, belong to the Thlinket tribe and are uncivilized, though 
apparently well disposed toward white people who come among them. 
They live in rude houses of their own construction, and subsist mostly 
on fish, both fresh and smoked, shellfish, crabs, and other marine ani- 
mals, besides the flesh and oil of the hair seal. Seal oil seems to be 
their staff of life, as it is eaten with nearly ali kinds of food, both ani- 
mal and vegetable. During the summer season the Indians use large 
quantities of berries, and also utilize several edible plants, to be men- 
tioned hereafter. 
Immediately on establishing my camp I began the work of collecting, 
though at this season but few plants were in flower. I endeavored to 
obtain twenty sheets of dried specimens of each species, but in some 
cases only a partial series could be secured on account of the searcity 
of the plant. The drying papers were changed two or three times 
every day and dried by hand over a fire before they were returned to the 
presses, this work being rendered necessary by the great humidity of 
the atmosphere and the almost daily rains. During the season about 
10 cords of wood were used in keeping up these fires. 
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