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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



simple ration, consisting of little more than bacon, beans, flour and 

 coffee, with a little butter, sugar, dried fruit and some farinaceous 

 foods. The simplicity of the rations made it possible to reduce its 

 weight to less than three pounds per man a day. Experience has 

 shown, however, that there is economy in carrying more variety of food, 

 as it keeps the party in better health and spirits. All perishable sup- 

 plies were double-sacked and made absolutely water-proof. The wisdom 

 of this precaution was many times made evident when the canoes were 

 overturned or injured. 



The methods of travel were practically the same for all the parties. 



U.S. GEOLOGICUL ;uHvE> 



1. Map of Alaska, illustrating pkogress of exploration up to 1904. 



Up-stream journeys were made by dragging the canoes with ropes, 

 called ' tracking,' by which from two to ten miles a day could be accom- 

 plished, depending on the swiftness of the current and the character 

 of the banks. If conditions were favorable, recourse was had to poling, 

 by which much better time can be made. When the head of canoe 

 navigation was reached, explorations into another watershed were made 

 and a portage route determined upon. Then, if necessary, a trail was 

 chopped and bridges built. Finally, the whole outfit was carried over 

 by the members of the party. The longest portage made by a survey 

 party was eighteen miles; but the work of transporting half a ton of 

 supplies for such a distance is almost heart-breaking. 



The methods of survey were determined more or less by the means 

 and rapidity of travel. In most cases it was possible to make a fairly 



