LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



National Museum, April 25, 1882. 



Sir: Herewith I have the honor to transmit to you for publication the following notes made 

 by me in the Territory of Alaska during the years 1874 to 1881, under the direction of the Chief 

 Signal Officer, U. S. Army, and in connection with the National Museum, under the direction of 

 Prof. S. F. Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



A brief recital of the various localities visited by me is necessary. 



Under special orders I was directed by the Chief Signal Officer to proceed to Saint Michael's, 

 Alaska, and there establish a meteorological station. I arrived at Saint Michael's May 25, 1874, and 

 began taking meteorological observations June 26, 1874. During my leisure time I was employed 

 in obtaining such objects pertaining to the natural history of that region as could be done. The 

 collection embraced specimens of plants, insects, fishes, birds, mammals, and a great quantity of 

 ethnological matter, together with extensive vocabularies of the Unalet, Malemut, Nulato Ing;i- 

 let, and Aleut languages. Each of these subjects received the fullest attention that the means 

 and time at my disposition would allow; special attention being given to obtaining a full series of 

 the birds of that region and to collecting all ethnological material possible. Several species of 

 fishes and birds had not hitherto been detected within North American limits. 



This work was prosecuted until I signified my desire to return to civilization and was relieved, 

 at my own request, by Private E. W. Nelson, Signal Corps, U. S. Army, who assumed charge of 

 the meteorological duties and other work, under special orders from the Chief Signal Officer. 



To Private Nelson was turned over all Government property under my charge, July 14, 1877. 



I returned to Washington City, and at my own request was discharged from the Signal Corps, 

 U. S. Army. 



On the 6th of March, 1878, I again was connected with the Signal Corps, and, under special 

 orders from the Chief Signal Officer, was directed to proceed to Unalashka Island, Alaska, and 

 after establishing a meteorological station at that place, to also establish stations at Attn, Atkha, 

 Belkovsky, Fort Alexander (Bristol Bay), and Saint Paul Island, of the Pribylof Group. 



I arrived at Unalashka May 8, 1878, and proceeded to Fort Alexauder to establish the station 

 at that place. I secured the co-operation of Mr. J. W. Clark, to whom was intrusted a full set of 

 meteorological instruments, excepting barometers, of which I had none even for myself, and sta- 

 tionery. On my return to Uualashka in the early part of July, 1878, I soon departed for Belkov- 

 sky, for the purpose of establishing a meteorological station at that place, but not finding a person 

 there whom I considered of sufficient intelligence and reliability to perform the work, I was com- 

 pelled to abandon that station. At Una'askka there was no one to take observations during ray 

 absence, and lateness of the season prevented rae from going to the western part of the Aleutian 

 Islands to establish stations at Atkha and Attu. At Saint Paul Island I secured the services of 

 Mr. H. W. Mclutyre, who promised to take observations at that place. 



In May, 1879, I visited the island of Atkha, but not finding a white man permanently at that 

 place, I was necessitated to remain there until September, 1879, when I returned to Unalashka; 

 where I remained i^fctil June 3, 1880; and upon an opportunity offering I proceeded to Attu to 

 take personal charge of a station at that place. I remained at Attu until June, 1881, and returned 

 to Unalashka to be relieved of further duty by Sergeant S. Applegate, Signal Corps, U. S. Array, 



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