159 
comparatively even temperature. Although so far north. 
the winter's cold is not excessive, probably not equalling 
that of parts of New England. It is cooler than New 
England in the summer, it is true, but there is much less 
variation of temperature between summer and winter. 
2. The rivers of Afognak still exist in all their 
original purity and fruitfulness. No overfishing has left 
them barren. No mills have polluted their primeval 
purity. No railroads have frightened the salmon away 
from them. No mining has disturbed their native spawn- 
ing grounds. As salmon rivers they are still in their 
original glory. ‘To quote a not inappropriate line of 
Byron, ‘Such as Creation’s dawn beheld” them, they are 
rolling now. Consequently nothing need be done nor any 
expense incurred in putting the rivers in order for 
asylums of refuge for the salmon. 
3. No complications now exist or can come up in 
future, in regard to land titles in this island. The United 
States Government owns the land already like the rest of 
Alaska, by direct purchase from Russia, and has never 
parted with any of its exclusive rights of ownership. No 
State or Territory, or company or individual owns an acre 
of it. Consequently the U. S. Government can set aside 
the island for any purpose whatever, without interfering 
with any prior rights or titles, or incurring any risk of 
litigation.* Alaska is already one great reservation. 
4. The island will probably never be wanted for any 
thing else. The summer season is so short that no crops 
can be raised there, and it is not likely that for many 
generations, if ever, the land will be wanted by perma- 
nent settlers, and it is now inhabited only by a few 
Aleuts and half breed families who would not be inter- 
fered with. There would be no injustice done to indi. 
viduals by making a reservation of the island. 
* There are two canneries operating in the southern part of the island, but there 
would probably not be great difficulty in making satisfactory arrangements with 
them, 
