CAPT. M. A. HEALY'S LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



» U. S. Eevenue Makine, 



Revenue Steamer Cokwin, 



Martinez Cal, November 10, 1884. 



Sib: I have tlio bouor to submit herewith a report covering- tlie operations of this vessel dnr- 

 iug her receut cruise iu the Arctic, together with a report of Lieut. J. W. Uowisou, who was located 

 thirty days at Point Hope, aud of Lieut. J. ('. Oantwell and Assistant Engineer S. B. McLeuegan, 

 regarding their exploration of the Kowak Eiver. 



I would respectfully call attention to the fact that the head of the river was not reached either 

 by our party or the uaval expedition, and the most interesting portion of the river remains unex- 

 plored. As far as I can learn, the naval expedition ascended about four hundred miles, and that 

 from the Gorwin three hundred and seventy-nine — little or no difference. Lieutenant Cantwell had 

 reached his highest point and was returning when he met the expedition under Lieutenant Stoney. 



We are the pioneers of the river, aud I believe the report of Lieutenant Cantwell will be read 

 with interest. 



The specimens of birds and minerals collected were forwarded upon our arrival. 



The floriil specimens aie forwai'ded by today's mail for classification. Those collected up the 

 river ai-e separately marked liom those obtained along the coast. 



I also forward the report of Lieutenant Lutz of his operations at the seal islands, together 

 with a chart showing soundings, and rocks and shoals surveyed by him. I fully indorse his 

 recommendation that the ofiicer detailed for duty at the seal islands take up his residence here- 

 after on St. Paul Island instead of Otter Island. At St. Paul Island j)lenty of men and boats can 

 be obtained aud much more efTective work be accomplished than could possibly be done by an 

 otficer on Otter Island with but two men. t>tter Island may be visited as often as necessary. 



The officers of the schooner Adele, seized by Mr. Lutz, all pleaded guilty on the charge for 

 which they were indicted and have been sentenced to.four mouths' imprisonment. The case of the 

 schooner is still undecided. I believe that the conviction of the ofiBcers was due iu a great meas- 

 ure to the attention and perseverance Mr. Lutz has given to the case. 



Since my return I have learned through men who have been seamen on the sealmarauding 

 vessels that most of the seal taken this year were killed on St. George Island and near the village 

 and directly under the nose of the special agent. This could not have been done if anything like 

 a decent lookout had been kept. 



I would recommend that an ofQcer of this service be stationed on that island next year, and I 

 think these seal-marauding expeditions will be broken up. 



The inclosed reports, together with partial reports transmitted heretofore, cover the entire 

 operations of this vessel on her late cruise, and I believe the whole to be as complete as could be 

 expected of a seaman untrained in the work of collecting scientific data. 



I have to express my thanks to Prof. George Davidson, of the U. S. Coast Survey, for impor- 

 tant assistance iu the work of making the chart of the Kowak River, etc., aud to the various gen- 

 tlemen connected with the U. S. National Museum whose statements regarding specimens of 

 natural history collected by the Cnririn form a. jiart of this report. 

 I am, very resjiectfully, your obedient servant, 



M. A. IIeal^', 

 Ca2)tain, U. S. Revenue Marine. 



The Secretary of tue Trkastrv, 



Washiiti/lon, D. G, 



