ALASKA SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN 1901. 
387 
from the lake it flows with many bends and curves over a generally gravel bottom 
until within one mile of the coast line, where it is joined from the eastward by the 
Us-tay and is deflected around a high wooded point through 180°; it then follows 
the coast to the westward for 31 miles, when it breaks into the sea. 
The Us-tay has its source in a lake about a mile in diameter, which lies under 
Fassett Glacier, and 6 miles below it gives off a branch called the Ko-kon-hee-ni 
(Stickleback), which flows SSE. The main stream continues to the southwest for a 
mile^ when it gives off another branch called the Stu-hee-nook, which flows SSE. and 
unites with the first branch near the village near the western side of Dry Bay, and 
together they flow to the westward about a mile and empty into the sea. The 
combination of the three rivers forms an island with the village on the southeast side. 
The Us-tay, after giving out the branches just mentioned, receives a tributary 
from the northwest which flows from the Rodman Glacier and immediately below it 
divides, flowing as two streams and uniting a short distance above its junction with 
the Ah-quay, thus forming an island about 4 miles in length. 
All these streams are glacial. Below the junction of the Us-tay with the 
Ah-quay the stream is from 75 yards to one-fifth mile in width, from -1 inches to 4 
feet in depth, and of a character similar to Dangerous River. The Ah-quay above 
the junction is about the size of the Italic. Its mouth, around which were many 
seals, narrows to 75 yards and is moving to the westward. The Ah-quay and the 
Us-tay are said to carry large numbers of king salmon, redfish, and cohoes, and the 
former has a run of eulachon in the early spring. In the lower Ah-quay gill nets 
could be used, and higher up seines, but navigation is hazardous on account of 
numerous bars and quicksands, which have but slight surface indications. 
The Stu-hee-nook is a small stream about 15 yards wide, a few inches deep, and 
flows with a sluggish current, while the Ko-kon-hee-ni is probably three times as 
large. Both carry redfish and cohoes in large numbers, and at their junction, on 
July 4, several canoes were employed spearing redfish. This whole system, called 
the Ah-quay, is said to carry a very large number of king salmon, redfish, and cohoes. 
The canoe route from the mouth of the Italio River is to ascend that river, 
keeping in the tributary that flows from the ENE. to the small mud lake. Here a 
hard portage through the timber to a small tributary of the Ah-quay is necessary; 
thence the route is down that stream to its junction with the Us-tay, up the latter to 
the Ko-kon-hee-ni, and down this stream to the village. 
If, however, it is concluded to pack from Dangerous River, then, after crossing 
the Italio at the point previously described, take the outside beach to the Ah-quay, 
following the right bank of that river for about 3 miles from the mouth, or until the 
first wooded belt, a broad, treeless, sand plain, and then the second wooded belt are 
passed, where there is a low, grassy plain, and where the river can be forded when 
it is under normal conditions. Caution, however, must be used, as there is considerable 
quicksand, but by using a pole and sounding ahead a passage can be made. A canoe 
is usually kept on the eastern side of the Ah-quay, near its junction with the. Us-tay, 
for feriying. Having passed the Ah-quay, the sea beach affords an excellent high- 
way, particularly at low water, and can be followed to the mouth of the Ivo-kou-hee-ni, 
whence a well-defined trail leads to the village. 
Dry Bay, which is the delta of the Alsek River, covers from 80 to 100 square 
miles, the river flowing into the sea by three separate channels. After passing the 
