246 
the recurrence of similar opportunities in the 
future. 
There are many persons who have long 
wished that an international scientific associa- 
tion should be formed, where those of similar 
pursuits could meet one another, and, as it 
were, exchange thought between the nations. 
All acknowledge that the chief value of the 
large general associations lies in the stimulus 
of personal intercourse and discussion; and 
this would doubtless apply still more decidedly 
to aninternational society. The principal pur- 
pose of its meetings would be, we doubt not, 
to secure that stimulus. 
An international scientific association youll 
necessarily be largely European, and Ameri- 
cans would have to cross the ocean to attend 
its sessions. But with our habits of active 
travel, this necessity cannot be thought likely 
to prove a serious obstacle to our active par- 
ticipation in the association ; which might, too, 
at some time, be induced to follow the exam- 
ple of the British association, and meet upon 
our side. Perhaps no opportunity will soon 
recur so favorable for the formation of the 
suggested association as the meeting at Phila- 
delphia, and it seems very possible that the 
initiative may be there taken. The two Eng- 
lish-speaking races can then act in concert, 
and, by adouble appeal, more easily achieve the 
result than either could alone. America takes 
no share in the international complications 
which agitate Europe, and is therefore a friend 
with all, and might, on that account, the more 
readily inaugurate such a general movement. 
Some limitation would necessarily be made 
upon the membership of the body suggested, 
confining it, perhaps, to original investigators. 
It is a question how far the indiscriminate 
presentation of scientific communications could 
be made feasible; for, if the whole of the an- 
nual additions to science were to be present- 
ed, the association would sit the entire year. 
Obviously some restrictions are requisite: their 
character must be decided by discussion and 
experience. Thus, formal addresses upon 
special subjects, or discussions limited to speci- 
fied topics, might serve the purpose ; or it might 
be considered wise to follow the example of 
the new Society of naturalists, which devotes its 
attention to the ways and means, the practical 
technique, rather than the results, of science. 
We hope that the plan we have briefly indicated 
will meet at least with consideration, and 
awaken discussion, so that it can be ascertained 
whether it ought to be pursued farther. It is 
too early yet. to venture upon any definite 
proposals. 
SCIENCE. 
[Vou. IIL, No. 56. — 
THE ALASKA MILITARY RECO 
SANCE FOR 1883.1 
Lravine Tahk-o, the Yukon, for the first 
time, assumed something of a riparian air, the 
draining river being nine miles long. It is 
from three hundred to four hundred yards in 
width, very swift, and the first part of its course 
full of rocks and great bowlders, that make its 
navigation hazardous for even a stanch raft. 
On its right-hand bank stood a roughly built 
Tahk-heesh house, the only one on this part 
of the Yukon River for hundreds of miles on 
either side; and even it was deserted. The 
next lake was nearly thirty miles long, and 
appreciably wider than those through which 
we had sailed. I called it Lake Marsh, after 
Professor Marsh of Yale college. 
I have spoken of a great number of glaciers 
that were constantly encountered, and the 
white condition of the water emanating from 
them. In Lake Marsh the water near the 
shores was very shallow, owing to large de- 
posits of this fine glacier mud; and we often 
found it impossible to get much nearer the 
beach than sixty to eighty yards, although 
our craft drew less than two feet of water. 
When a high wind lashed the lake into waves, 
these mud deposits gave a clear-cut outline 
between the whitened water within their ex- 
terior edges and the deep blue water beyond, 
that showed in many places an extension of 
the deposits of four hundred to five hundred 
yards from the beach. It is possible that the 
stages of water may vary in Lake Marsh at 
different seasons sufficient to lay bare these 
mud-banks, or cover them so as to be navi- 
gable for small boats; but there seemed to 
be a wonderful uniformity in the depth of the 
water over these banks in every part of the 
lake, being about eighteen inches. Through 
this tenacious mass, that even threatened to pull 
off our rubber boots, we would have to carry 
our camping-material each evening as we went 
into camp, and each morning as we broke it 
for our departure. The trees on the hills over- 
looking the lake, as had been often noticed 
before on the upper waters of the Yukon, all 
leaned more or less conspicuously towards the 
north, or down stream, thus plainly showing 
the prevailing direction of the stronger winds. 
Faint signs of terraces were still.to be’ seen 
on the hillsides; but they were lower, nearer 
together, and not so well marked as on Lake 
Nares. The level ridges on the eastern hills 
were still covered with the luxuriant yellow 
grass of last year’s growth, and, as we viewed — 
1 Continued from No, 55. 3 
