382 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
ALSEK REGION. 
About 60 miles southeast from Ocean Cape, which forms the southern entrance 
point to Yakutat Bay, the high mountain range of the Fairweather system recedes 
from the present coast line for a distance ranging from 6 to Id miles, forming 
wooded plains, with gentle slopes ascending to the base of the mountain system. It 
is probable that the sea, during an earlier geological period, lapped the foot of the 
mountains and that the numerous glaciers, now visible on every hand, discharged 
directly into the ocean. The plain now fringing the mountain system is formed 
from the glacial debris, by moraine deposit and by stream detritus brought from the 
glaciers and thrown back by the sea. Through this action the coast lind is undoubt- 
edly extending seaward constantly, for the streams which drain the glaciers debouch 
directly upon the ocean and bring down a large amount of sediment to be deposited 
and cast up. The plains are traversed by numerous streams having their sources 
frequently in lakes and ponds, which receive the glacial drains, though there are some 
tributaries which drain the glaciers direct. These streams ramify in all directions, 
even to the extent of occasionally forming connecting passages with each other. 
The Alsek, which is at the eastern end of these plains and debouches at Dry 
Bay, is independent, though it possibly receives some slight drainage water from the 
plains in its lower course before it forms the delta. This river drains the great ice 
fields north of the St. Elias and Fairweather ranges, one branch dipping around to 
the westward and tapping the St. Elias region, and another branch extending more 
to the northward into the Chilkat country. It breaks through the range back from 
Dry Bay, and, after cutting a large glacier lying near the northern end of the bay, 
forms its delta, which is really Dry Bay. 
The Alsek and adjacent rivers to Yakutat all have runs of salmon, and in some 
all species are represented. According to the Indian reports and the statements of 
some fishermen who have, visited the locality, salmon are very plentiful. 
In order to have a better understanding of the region, Lieutenant Rodman and 
Mr. Chamberlain, with Indian guides and canoes, from July 1 to 6, made a trip from 
Yakutat Bay to the Alsek, and Ensign Miller, from the head of Disenchantment Bay, 
made a portage with Indian guides to the headwaters of the See-Tuck, and descending 
that stream returned to Yakutat through the chain of lakes and lagoons to Monti Bay. 
From the notes of these officers and from other sources the following is obtained: 
It has been reported that by means of the lagoons, lakes, and intersecting streams 
an inside waterway exists from Yakutat Bay to Dry Bay , but such is not the case. 
It is true, however, that by waiting for the top of high water and making long 
detours, a canoe can be carried through by making several portages, but the route is 
impracticable for a boat of any size. 
On the southern shore of Monti Bay, 2 ? miles from the village of Yakutat, and 
a mile from Point Carrew, Cape Phipps Peninsula is penetrated by a shallow inlet, 
about 2^ miles in length, and on the charts misnamed Ankau Creek. From Monti Bay, 
it first tends to the southward, then to the eastward, and terminates in a T-shaped 
head, which lies in a general northeast-and-southwest direction. This inlet is very 
irregular in shape, and broken by islands and shoals, having narrow shallow channels 
between them. In entering, about 3 feet of water can be carried at half tide to the 
first turn to the eastward, when up to three-fourths tide there is a rapid. 
