COPPER RIVER INVESTIGATION. 121 



stretches are apparently quiet, the stream even here runs with con- 

 siderable swiftness, and for the major part of its course is so rapid 

 as to be cutting and shifting its channel constantly, while at a few 

 points its turbulent waters dash over the rocks in its bed with such 

 violence that the current offers a most formidable obstacle even to 

 the progress of powerful fish like the salmon. 



Just above the delta, about 30 miles distant from the flats, the 

 stream makes an abrupt angle to the west and again to the south in 

 passing the Childs and Miles Glaciers, which approach it directly from 

 the east and west, and which seem to have formerly confined it very 

 narrowly, since they were separated by only a mile at the narrowest 

 point. At present an enlargement of the stream, known as Miles 

 Lake, intervenes between the two glaciers. It is 4 miles long, and 

 more than half that wide. Below it the river traverses a broader 

 plain, within which its channels are constantly shifting, and expands 

 into a network that stretches into the delta, involving an area of 

 flats and sloughs that in the extreme is not loss than 12 or 15 miles 

 wide. These channels communicate directly with those of the Martin 

 River, a smaller glacial stream to the eastward, and less intimately 

 on the other side with streams from the Sherman Glacier, although 

 farther westward various channels interlace over a common mud 

 plain until they connect, in fact, with the channel of the Eyak River 

 at the extreme west of this flat low-lying shore of mud and sand. 



Supt. J. R. Russell, of Birdsview, Wash., was detailed to assist in 

 this work. Prof. W. A. Oldfather, of the University of Illinois, went 

 along as assistant. The party was augmented at Copper Center by 

 the addition of Frank H. CaiToll, who had been secured as guide and 

 packer for the part of the work covering the trip through the wilder- 

 ness. 



A collapsible boat was taken for use on the lakes. It proved ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to transport, and yet without it it would have been 

 impossible to secure the essential information on the lakes and at 

 the spawning grounds. 



CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE OF TRIP. 



The party reached Cordova the morning of July 17, 1919, on which 

 date the author had an extended conference with E. M. Ball, from 

 whom he learned at first hand important facts concerning the gen- 

 eral situation. The following day was devoted to an inspection of 

 Eyak Lake in which some red salmon were spawning at that time. 

 On July 19 a visit was paid to Eyak cannery on the flats near the 

 mouth of the river and the fish taken by their fishermen were care- 

 fully studied. On July 20 the writer met Arthur H. Miller, who is 

 in charge of the work of the Bureau of Education among certain 

 natives of Alaska, and discussed with him the evidence concerning 

 the run of red salmon on the Copper River in so far as it was furnished 

 by the experiences of the native fishermen. During that and pre- 

 vious days incidental visits were made to the plants of the salmon- 

 packing companies located at and near Cordova. Thereby oppor- 

 tunity was offered to inspect fish coming from the flats of the Copper 

 River and to compare them with fish brought in from other localities 

 in the district. 



