NOMENCLATURE OF THE FUKON. 105 



On the map referred to, the name Yukon is applied to the stream which flows 

 from Lake Lindeman — or, more precisely, from Crater lake, since Lieutenant 

 Schwatka's nomenclature for the river is followed — and after passing through 

 lakes Bennett, Tahko, Marsh, and Lebarge, is joined by the Pelly, Stewart, 

 and Porcupine rivers. From the junction with the Porcupine to the sea 

 there is, I believe, at present no duplication of names, the word Yukon being 

 in current use by all writers on the subject. 



Dawson has shown, in his report already referred to, that the extension 

 of the name Yukon so as to include the stream flowing from Crater lake 

 does violence to the nomenclature proposed by early explorers, and, more- 

 over, does not conform to the geography of the region. As stated by 

 Dawson, and as I have learned also from other sources, Crater lake is not 

 the main source of the Yukon, but of one of its secondary branches. 



In Dawson's report and on the maps accompanying it, choice among the 

 names proposed by various explorers has been controlled by precedence. 

 What is known as the Yukon on the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey map 

 referred to above is divided into three portious : From the sea to the mouth 

 of the Porcupine river the name Yukon is retained ; from the mouth of the 

 Porcupine to the mouth of the Upper Pelly it is called the " Pelly" ; thence 

 to Tagish lake it is the " Lewes." The main source of the Lewes is considered 

 to be the stream which enters the Tahko arm of Tagish lake, while the stream 

 from Crater lake, flowing through Lake Lindeman, is a secondary branch. 



As the streams concerning which there is a duplication of names are 

 chiefly in Canadian territory, I was strongly inclined to follow the usage of 

 Canadian geologists and explorers; but in attempting to do so, the incon- 

 venience of their system, as well as its disregard of geographical conditions, 

 forced me to reject it. 



In topographic nomenclature account should doubtlessly be taken of the 

 names proposed by early explorers. The exclusive use of this system, 

 however, not only tends to confusion, but often entails an unnecessary burden 

 on writers and students of geography. The exploration of the Yukon 

 drainage system is yet far from complete, and we still have it in our power 

 to so adjust the names applied to it as to make them conform to geographical 

 conditions and yet not do geat injustice to the work of early explorers. 



To one ascending the Yukon from the sea it is evident that no change of 

 name should logically occur where the main stream is joined by the Porcu- 

 pine, as there is no perceptible change in its character at that locality. The 

 same is true when the mouths of Stewart river and Pelly river are reached. 

 Continuing to ascend the main stream above the mouth of the Pelly, one 

 arrives, after voyaging about 150 miles, at the mouth of the " Tes-lin-too," 

 as it is named on many maps* This stream, in my judgment, is in reality 



Vfhis is the "Hootalinkvva " of miners, and the " Newberry river" of Sehwatka. 



