ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALASKA. 69 
found this tree growing at sea level It is seldom found 
large enough for lumber purposes, and on the mainland is 
mostly confined to the borders of sphagnous marshes, but 
on Kuiu Island there are a few small groves containing 
trees of two feet or more in diameter which are being used 
for lumber under the name “ red spruce.” 
TsuGA PATTONIANA, var. Hook ERA RA. This 1s pre-emi- 
nently an Alpine tree, being found at the highest altitude 
reached by trees in this region—that is, 3,000 to 3,500 feet— 
where it is twisted and gnarled by the gales so prevalent 
tiere, and, although frequently found only 8 to 10 feet in 
height, it is still well laden with small, strictly erect, purple 
cones. 
Pinus cowToRTA (Scrub Pine) Tsimsian, SHKIN-EESH. 
This tree is generally confined to ike borisa and margins 
of sphagnous marshes, being crowded out of the forest by 
the more prolific growth of Picea, Tsuga Mertensiana, and 
Thuya. It is comparatively scarce, and its only economic | 
use is for fuel, except that by the natives its inner bark is 
still occasionally used as food, being eaten freshly cooked, 
and not kept for future use as is the inner bark of T. Mer- 
tensiana. 
Pinus Murrayana (Lodge Pole Pine, Tamarack Pine) 
has much the same habitat as the last; in fact, the specimens 
which I sent down in 1890 were identified as P. contorta, 
but this I am not yet willing to accept, as it does not answer 
the description of the latter; one specimen that I saw on 
Square Island being over 100 feet in height and 18 inches 
in diameter at stump height. 
TAXUS BREVIFOLIA (Yew), in Tsimsian, SHowk-rUK, might 
almost be classed as a shrub in this region, but it is of con- 
siderable economie value to the natives, among whom it is 
used for knife and tool handles of various kinds. Being 
