Y 



X .X 



THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



Vol. III. Portland, Oregon, April, 1896. No. 



KODIAK ISLAND. with small islands varying in size from the 



"" needle like structures rising abrubtlyfrom 



A CONTRIBUTION TO THE AVIFAUNA the sea, to the larger bodiesof land such 

 OF ALASKA. 



' as Sitkalidak, Spruce and Whale islands. 



Research has shown that geographical Topographically, Kodiak is extremely 



distribution of species, is governed largely ''^^gh. there being no main chain of 



by climatic conditions, to a certain extent "mountains or back bone, it might appropri- 



regardiessof latitude. With this in mind, ^^ely be described as a lump of bumps 



the writer will endeavor to familiarize the "^'"S "^"^ «^ ^^^ «'^^^"; ^^' ^^ ^^^ ^'S^est 



reader, with the climatic conditions exist- peaks only reach an altitude of two thou- 



ing on Kodiak Island, before passing to sand feet, they are hardly to be considered 



the main object of this paper. as mountains. The two principal settle- 



Kodiak Island, lies on the west side of "^^"^s on the island, are Karluck and 



what is known as the Gulf of Alaska, in '^O'^*^^' ^he former on the southwest 



Lat. 55-00. N. and Long 153-00, W. It ^^'-n^'' «^ the island, is the center of the 



is separated from the mainland on its west Salmon Cannery trade, and probably the 



coast by Shelikoff Straits, which have an ^^'^^^^ P'^"^ of its kind in the world, 



average width of thirtv marine miles. ^^^diak, is the headquarters of the 



The total length of the island is about Alaska Commercial Co., and also the 



seventy-five miles, and an average North American Commercial Co., the fur 



breadth of forty miles, but its coasts are trade of Alaska being divided between 



so heavily indented with bays, that in them. It is one of the oldest settlements 



several places the island may be crossed «f Alaska, and Baranoff, the celebrated 



from east to west by a portage of only ten Russian ruler, maintained his headquarters 



or fifteen miles. It is bare of timber, ex- ^t Kodiak, for many years before he 



cepting a small portion on the northeast- founded the town of Sitka, 



ern extremity, which, together with the Although Sitka and Kodiak, are in the 



adjacent islan of Afognak, is thickly same degree of latitude, they vary greatly 



covered with spruce and small fir. i" temperature, climate and fauna, in fact 



The main island is entirely surrounded slight similarity exists between the two 



