106 CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



exceediiij^ly dangerous. At tliis jjoint a strong current sweeps directly under the clifls, and it 

 is necessary for purposes of navigation to keep well out in tbe stream. Masses of earth and 

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



The source of the vast shoals in Ilotham Inlet is now apparent, 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 feet above the sea. 



For a distance of fully 250 miles there are from two to five 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 detined and its navigation comparatively 

 easy. In regard to the headwatersof the river the writer can not speak 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 Colville River, which flows into the Arctic near 

 Point Barrow. 



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

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

 ful accomplishment of this duty. 



TIMBER. 



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

 thus unfolding to the eye new scenes of quiet beauty as we journey upstream. 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 

 for native use. Coregonus, jiickerel, 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 spawning season. During 

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

 of subsistence during a portion of the long winter months. 



In order to arrive at any definite conclusion as to the value of the fish product 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. 



MINERAL EESOUECES. 

 COAL. 



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

 deposits of coal. Our attention was first directed to this matter by the large masses of conglom- 

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

 of coal. 



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

 high, rolling, and partly 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. 



