\ 



Pacific. Hov/ever, the Aleutian Ridge prevents any exchange of the abysmal 

 waters, Betv/een Attu Island and the Eomandorski Islc.nds, depths of 2000 

 fathoms have been recorded, thus providirig a means for the exchange of -Sie -t 

 deeper waters, (See CHELAN Report Pages 46 and 47). 



Bering Strait prevents any exchange of the waters of the Arctic 

 Ocean and thus produces conditions in Bering Sea and the North Pacific 

 that are not encountered in the North Atlantic, ■■ 



Three great rivers, the Yukon and Kuskokwim in Alaska and th© Anadir 

 in Siberia, discharge into the northern waters of Bering Sea. 



The basin of Boring Soa is approximately divided into two oqual 

 portions by the 100-fathom contour which extends from Unimak Pass, in a 

 northwostorly direction, to Siberia, passing just south of the Pribilof 

 Isl;mds. The sea floor, oast and north of this contour, is an ir.imenso 

 plateau of little changing dopth, averaging botvreen 20 and 30 fathoms and 

 shoaling gradually tov/ard the coaot linos. Wost and south of the contour, 

 the sea floor drops more or less rapidly to a basin approximating a depth 

 of 2000 fathoms o 



Prior to the sailing of the GHSLAN from Seattle, a recordirig fath- 

 ometer was installed. This kept an accurate account of the soundings up 

 to 125 fathoms. The CHSLAInI covered much of the territory in the Boring 

 Sea and some in tho Arctic, An accurate record 'vre.s kept of soundings and 

 positions, y/hich data v/as plotted, iviany interesting observations wore made 

 from these soundings. It can be seen that if tho elevation of the shores 

 of the Boring Sea, the Arctic Ocean and a continental shelf lying off them 

 is raised 200 feet thoy would connect Asia and Alaska; if they wore raised 

 '300 feet it would connect the eastern Aleutians as far as Urnnak and the 

 Pribilof Islands with the mainland of Alr.sk;.^., laying bare a very large 

 level plain, covering the northern half and most of tho eastern part of 

 tho Boring Soa. 



It was possible to observe tho contour and constructions of many 

 of the islands of the Bering Sea and the linos of Alaska and Asia. Vvith 

 this information and data with reference to tho depths, it would appear 

 that tho glacial theory is a correct one. Soundings woLild incilcate that 

 a geologically short time .-igo the continent of North America and Asia were 

 probably one being connected during the period T/hen the mammoth passed 

 over from Asia to America. Investigations have shown that man probably 

 passed from Asia to America, over the Asian-Ai.iGrican bridge or over that 

 vast continental plateau which occupied what is now Boring Sea, Bering Strait, 

 and a part of tho Arctic Soa. The similarity of rock sGructure on both 

 sides of Bering Strait is proof of the fomer land conuiction between Alaska 

 and Siberia. 



In spite of great variety in ti--pes, the American natives show definite 

 similarities to Asiatics. A careful investigation of these tribes has 

 given very significant indications as to the character of the ethnological 

 connections between the northern Asiatics, and the Eskimo. 



The Aleutians Islands and those of the Pribilofs, St. I.iatthew, St, Lawrence 

 and Diomedes alppoar to be just a degraded portion of tne Arccic glacial 

 mountains with thoir foothills and most of tho lowest portions under vmtor ; 



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