388 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
glacier previously referred to, the main body of water is deflected to the westward 
after giving one branch to the southward. A few miles beyond another part breaks 
to the southward, while the remaining portion continues yet a few miles when it, too, 
turns to the southward and enters the sea. From the point of departure from the 
main stream the branches form very large basins which close in toward the sea 
and empty through narrow channels. These basins are tilled with bars and small 
islands with ramifying channels, all changing from day to day, and even from hour 
to hour. The only permanent feature in the delta appears to be a large, rocky, 
wooded island between the western and middle basins, which, on range with the 
Alsek Glacier, leads close to the western mouth. On July d, 1901, the western 
channel was the largest, about 100 yards across, and on June 8 had the best water — 
6 feet on the bar at mean low water. The middle channel, 5 miles distant, was about 
200 yards wide, and the eastern channel, 3 miles beyond, was 350 yards wide. 
Neither the width, depth, nor position, can be depended upon, as a week later the 
best water may have been in one of the other channels. The natives state that the 
current usually flows out and that an anchorage maybe made by small craft in from 
8 to 9 feet inside the western bar. 
The bed of the river above the glacier is rocky and bowlderous, with areas of 
sand and gravel. The current is very strong, but a good boat can be hauled and 
poled upstream a considerable distance. The water temperature July 1 was 51° F. 
The Alsek is highest in the spring and lowest in September. It is said that salmon 
ascend the Alsek for 50 miles and that there is a large, clear lake in the interior. 
The natives fish the Alsek but little, as the smaller streams, which furnish them 
with all the fish they can use, are more accessible, but they all agree that king salmon, 
redfish, and cohoes, ascend the Alsek in countless thousands. The idea of abundance 
as expressed by a native, however, must be received with caution, as he usually has 
no idea of the great capacity of a large cannery. 
In the Alsek the natives report the king salmon as commencing to run about the 
last of April, and with them are found a few redfish, which species, however, does 
not run strong until July 1; the cohoes follow during the early part of August. 
In a cursory examination of this kind it is impossible to state anything definite 
in regard to hatchery sites. It is probable that upon thorough investigation such 
sites could be located, but much difficulty would be encountered in obtaining pure 
water, as all of these streams are more or less glacial in origin. Outside of these 
facts, however, is the question of accessibility. There are no villages or permanent 
habitations between Yakutat and Dry Bay, and the journey, even in summer, with a 
light two-man canoe, is not an easy one, and is accompanied by some risk. 
The plain between Yakutat and the Alsek, and bordering the mountain system to 
the sea, is for the most part wooded with spruce, hemlock, alder, and cottonwood, 
with a smaller growth of willows and elder, accompanied by the usual berry bushes, 
devil club, etc. From Black Sand Island to the mouth of the Italio there is an 
extensive treeless sand plain reaching several miles back from the coast line. This 
plain is cut up by small, shallow, spreading streams, having little or no current, with 
some shallow ponds, and a portion of it has a scant growth of grass and weeds. In 
very dry weather sand storms occur, and it is said they are at times dangerous. 
The coast seaward appears to have no outlying dangers. 
