106 CKUISE OF THE BTliAMEll COKWIN. 



exceedingly danprerous. At tliis i)oint a strong current sweeps directly under the cliffs, and it 

 is necessary lor purposes ol' navigation to keej) will out in tbe stream. Masses of earth and 

 quantities of timber are being uuderniincd and precipitated into the river. 



The .source of the vast shoals in Ilotham Inlet is now ai)i)arent, and it seems probable that 

 in time the inlet will cease to exist. 



After passing through the foot hills the river enters a mountainous region. On either bank 

 the country has a gradual slope from the mountains. The ranges, which are somewhat broken, 

 rise from two to three thousand feel above the sea. 



For a distance of fully 250 miles there are from two to fi\e fathoms of water in the channel. 

 Above this point the river shoals and the current becomes very strong. During high water the 

 channel is obscure in places; at a lower stage it is well defined and its navigation comparatively 

 easy. In regard to the headwaters of the river the writer can not sjieak from observation. The 

 natives say that the current is very strong and that it is impossible to stem it. The channel is 

 said to have many dangerous rocks, and frequent portages are necessary to avoid rapids. 



It is said that a portage can be made to an unknown river flowing into the Yukon. It is also 

 supposed that a short portage can be made to the (^olville River, which flows into the Arctic near 

 Point Barrow. 



There are many interesting problems to solve in Arctic Alaska. It will not be the work of 

 weeks or even months, but years of arduous and incessant labor will be required for the success- 

 ful accomplishment of this duty. 



TIMBEB. 



The valley of the Kowak above the delta is pleasantly diversified with forests and jilaius, 

 thus unfolding to the eye new scenes of quiet beauty as we journey up stream. The forests are 

 made up of white spruce, birch, poplar, and cottonwood. The timber shows more or less climatic 

 repression. The spruce seldom attains a diameter exceeding eighteen inches and is stunted in 

 growth. This species forms the great bulk of the timber in this region, 



FISH. 



The river abounds in fish, among which the salmon is the most common and desirable species 

 f()r native use. Coregonus, pickerel, grayling, and trout are frequently seen ; the latter two species 

 taking the hook readily, formed an agreeable change from our monotonous diet of ship stores. 

 The salmon run begins in July and lasts through until the end of the s])awning season. During 

 this time the natives are busy laying up a supply of tliis fish, which constitutes their chief means 

 of sul>sistence during a portion of the long winter months. 



In order to arrive at any definite conclusion as to the value of the fish proiluct of this region 

 it would be necessary to obtain observations covering a series of years, as the duration of the run 

 and quantity of fish entering the river varies greatly from year to year. 



MIXER A L BESOVBCES. 

 COAL. 



In the lower river region, about seventy five miles above the mouth, we found extensive 

 dei)0sits of coal. Our attention was first directed to this niatter by the large masses of conglom- 

 erate rock along the river banks. Wherever this formation is found we have <liscovered deposits 

 of coal. 



The coal belt in this region is about thirty miles in width, and it jiasses through a series of 

 high, rolling, and i)artly timbered hills. In many places the veins crop out along the water's edge, 

 and during the spring freshets large quantities are detached and washed down into the bed of the 

 river. 



The outcrop is seldom free from slaty impurities. Notwithstanding this, we obtained a uantity 

 of remarkably pure specimens. It is jet-black in color, and of a soft, friable texture. 



