ALASKA SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN 1900. 
241 
Afognak village is located at the extreme southwestern end of the bay, and con- 
sists of two parts; the most southerly is a settlement with a population of about 175 
whites and half-breeds, and to the northward (separated from the other by a high 
grassy bluff named Graveyard Point) is a native village of less than 100 inhabitants. 
Very foul ground, marked by kelp in summer, extends one-half mile off the principal 
village, increasing to 1 mile off Graveyard Point, and reaching halfway across the 
passage to Hog Island, a small wooded island, slightly crescent-shaped, with the cusps 
to the southwest. It is about half a mile long, in a general east-and-west direction, 
about 250 yards in width, and, when seen from the westward, it has a dip or saddle 
in the northern third. From high-water mark the rocky shelf projects in reefs a 
distance of 200 yards on all sides, and on the western end of the reef extends toward 
the village for three-tenths of a mile. These reefs are all marked by kelp in summer. 
Nearly a mile to the northeastward of Hog Island are Skipwith Reefs, a line of 
high rocks always out of water, which, with Lamb Island, a larger wooded island, 
form the eastern side of the bay. Between Hog Island and Skipwith Reefs is a 
wide, clear passage, which might be called the Eastern Passage, and is the one to be 
preferred 1 >y strangers on entering or leaving the bay. 
Danger Reef is a large reef, bare at low water, with deep water close to and all 
around it, and lies NNE. ^ E., 1.2 miles from Graveyard Point. It is estimated that 
it covers at three-quarter tide, or earlier. It is a bad reef when covered, as it is not 
marked by kelp and is not easily seen. 
On the northern side, outside of the point marking the contraction of the bay, 
are three small, low, wooded islets lying close to the shore. The western one is 
Dot Island, which, when seen clear of the adjoining land, has a conical appearance. 
West of this islet, on the opposite shore, is a tine cascade, falling to the beach, from 
which most excellent water may be obtained. At the head of the bay, in the north- 
western arm leading to the reservation stream, are several small islands. The first 
one is Winter Island, beyond which vessels should not go; it is high, rocky, and 
heavily wooded with spruce. The channel to the northward of Winter Island is 
obstructed by rocky ledges, and to the southward, as a point higher up is reached, it 
grows shallow and grassy. The latter is the boat channel to the river mouth. 
Several cannery steamers from Karluk winter in this arm. They anchor to the 
eastward of Winter Island, and then haul the sterns of the vessels close up to the 
rocks on the island (which are bold), where they are clear of the ice forced out of the 
river in the spring. 
At the extreme northern end a narrow extension of the bay, about a mile long 
by G cables in width and 2 fathoms deep, is known locally as Back Bay. It should 
afford good anchorage for a small vessel. At its head are two humpback streams. 
On the western shore, at the point where the bay turns to form the northwestern 
arm, are the locations of the canneries of the Royal Packing Company and the 
Russian-American Packing Company. 
The history of these canneries is given in my former report, pages 163 and 164, 
to which reference is made. Nothing is left of the cannery of the Russian-American 
Packing Company. The buildings of the Royal, in which are stored a number of 
boats, and several detached houses are still standing and in fair condition. A watch- 
man is kept here by the Alaska Packers Association during the summer, and during 
the winter the ship-keepers of the cannery steamers care for the property. 
F. C. B. 1901 — lfi 
