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heavier in the summer of 1892 than in any other since the American 
occupation of Alaska, From my arrival at Yakutat Bay on May 19 
until my departure on September 4, a period of 107 days, there were 
but 24 days wholly without rain. 
The plant life of the region about Yakutat Bay is characterized by 
the dense and vigorous growth of a comparatively small number of 
species, giving the forests especially an appearance of great sameness. 
The almost level country lying on the eastern side of the bay, between 
Ocean Cape and the foothills of the mountains, is covered with a forest 
growth practically impenetrable. The great amount of fallen timber, 
together with the tangled and heavy undergrowth, constitute such 
obstacles to travel that even the Indians, who have lived here many 
years, have never penetrated the forests of the mainland tor a mile from 
their own village. The great bulk of this forest is composed of the 
Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), which in this region reaches a height of 
70 feet. This tree extends from sea level to an altitude of 2,200 feet on 
the sides of Mount Tebenkof; but as one follows the coast line up the 
bay from this mountain, the upper limit becomes lower and lower, until 
at the entrance of Disenchantment Bay it reaches sea level, the tree 
not being found on the shores of this bay. <A large forest lies along 
Dalton Creek, and there are several of considerable extent between this 
place and Point Manby. 
The timber of the spruce tree plays a most important part in the 
economy of the natives, as from it are constructed their houses and 
canoes, and it is used in the manufacture of oil crates, bows, arrows, 
and other implements, while the smaller roots, after being boiled and 
split, are used in basket weaving. 
The hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) is found scattered through the 
spruce forests, and seems to have about the same vertical range as 
that tree, but is much less abundant and is somewhat smaller in size, 
The only other conifer found in this vicinity was a single individual of 
Sitka cypress (Chamecyparis nootkatensis), a small tree on Khantaak 
Island near the Indian village. 
The red alder (Alnus rubra) is found in great quantities throughout 
the forest region, especially on the edges of open glades, along the 
banks of streams, near the beach, and on the mountain sides, above 
the limit of spruce. On the western slope of Mount Tebenkof it reaches 
an altitude of 3,000 feet, 800 feet higher than spruce and hemlock, and 
grows on these higher slopes in such dense jungles as to be almost 
impenetrable, constituting one of the most serious obstacles to moun- 
tain climbing in this region, On the shores of Disenchantment Bay, 
where the spruce is not found, the alder reaches an altitude of 800 feet. 
This tree is also found in large quantities along the western shore of 
the bay. 
A willow (Salix barelayi), growing from 5 to 10 feet high, is found 
sparingly on Khantaak Island and in the low forest region, and is 
abundant in the wide canyons and washes of the St. Elias range and 
