'2'2- Tht AliK riiilli (ii nlnillst. October, 1891 
V»y nil I'k'valioii of prat'tirtilly ihhuiI amount. FiVi(U'nfi> oi a cer- 
tain amonnt of subsidence, and its approximate date is furnished 
Ity the tree stumps in situ, already mentioni'd as oecurring on the 
I'astern shore of tlie ink't at low water mark. As the average 
titles here have a hight of 2(1 ft., here is clear proof of a sul)- 
sidence of at least that amount, and which could not have taken 
phu-e before the deposition of the gravels. I am however unal)le 
to produce further evidence of oscillations of level which have 
occurred since the dep(jsit was formed, and merely present the 
idea as provisional, and as the only way (iceurring to me of ac- 
t'ounting for the hight above sea level reached by these gravels. 
Thi' subsidence indicateil l)y the tree stumps certainly took place 
(hiring or since the deposition of the gravel deposit, and is shown 
by evidence shortly to be presented to be very recent. 
TIIK ol.D FOREST. 
For the most part the mountains of southern Alaska are thickly 
covered with coniferous trees. The mountains in the vicinity of 
Glacier bay form a striking exception to this general rule, the 
shores of the upper part of the bay and the mountains to the north 
and east as far as the eye can see being without trees. Across the 
divide to the east, the mountains adjoining Jjvnn canal are forest 
covered. Passing down (rlacier bay. trees begin to appear on the 
summits of the mountains on the east side aV)out ten miles distant 
from the front of Muir glacier. Continuing to the south they be- 
come more numerous and extend further down the mountain 
slopes. The Beardslee islands, and old terminal moraine of the 
Glacier baj- glaciers, near the mouth of the bay. are thickly cov- 
ered with trees. That the region now bare had its own forests at 
no distant date is clear. Mingled with the detritus on the sides 
of the mountains around Muir glacier fragments of old wood are 
so plentiful that our party never made a camp anywhere without 
finding plenty of it for fuel within a very short distance. The 
gravel deposits adjoining .Muir inlet are full of it. logs twi'uty or 
thirty feet long being mA uncommon. Resides these loose pieces 
are tlie stumps /// situ in the old scjil upon which the gravel de- 
posits were laid down.* Fragments also ovcwv plentifully on the 
islands in the bay. All this wood is surprisingly fresh, so that 
when dry it makes excellent fuel. Sections of it were examined 
*See ante. j). :?•"). 
