DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 35 



At 9 o'clock we turned from ShelikOf into Karluk Straits. These straits, 

 which separate Afognak and Kadiak islands, are about 20 miles long 

 and 2 miles wide. On a clear day the trip through them furnishes 

 beautiful scenery. Soon after entering the. straits we overtook the 

 Alaska Commercial Company's schooner, the Kadiak, which had been 

 reported lost. Captain Healy very kindly offered to tow the schooner 

 into Kadiak, which offer was gladly accepted. Several times during 

 the day we again saw the wonderful sight of myriads and myriads of 

 birds covering the face of the sea; among the birds were seen several 

 whales. 



At 1.15 p. m. we came to anchor abreast of the village of Afognak, 

 and an opportunity was afforded me to go on shore and inspect the 

 schoolhouse and interview the teacher. Returning on board, the Bear 

 got under way. At 3.20 p. m., turning southward from Karluk Straits, 

 we entered the romantic and beautiful Ozinkey Narrows between Kadiak 

 and Spruce islands. With a strong tide in our favor, we swept swiftly 

 through the Narrows past the village of Ozinkey, where I lay at anchor 

 in 1886 in the schooner Leo. We again met myriads of birds darkening 

 the water in search of fish. Those met in the forenoon were of a white 

 color; those in the afternoon were brown. About 7.10 p. m. the ship 

 anchored about midway between Kadiak and Wood Island villages. 

 Going ashore at Wood Island, I had the privilege of spending the night 

 with Mr. Eoscoe at the mission of the American Baptist Woman's Home 

 Missionary Society. Mr. Roscoe's work has met with bitter opposition, 

 and even persecution, from some who should have stood by him; at 

 times even his life has been in danger, but through it all he has come out 

 triumphantly, and now has eighteen Russian Creole and Aleut children 

 in the home. The next day I went over to Kadiak and visited Mr. 

 Washburn, agent of the Alaska Commercial Company, and Mr. Solter, 

 teacher of the Government school. Here I was reminded that, although 

 so little is known by the general public of Alaska that it is considered 

 a comparatively new country, yet the citizens of Kadiak at the time of 

 my visit were making preparations to celebrate the centennial of the 

 establishment of the Russian Church in their village. 



In the afternoon of June 4 the ship got under way for Unga. The 

 trip through the southern entrance to the harbor of Kadiak out to sea 

 is one of great interest and beauty. Passing between Wood and Pick- 

 nick islands, by the southwest end of Long Island, through Chiniak 

 Bay, a large number of needle rocks are seen rising from the sea. 

 Long Island has been leased from the Government and stocked with 

 silver gray foxes. Passing Cape Greville, 15 miles south, carries us 

 abreast of Ugak Island, .which is a landmark for sailors bound for 

 Kadiak by the southern entrance. Here in 1784 a decisive battle was 

 fought between the natives and the Russians. After the repulse of 

 the attack of the natives on the newly-formed settlement of the Rus- 

 sians at Three Saints Bay, Shelikof concluded that his only safety was 



