H 
ALASKA. 
mile or two from the water, and for nearly the whole distance a range of distant 
mountains parallel to the left shore is visible. In these mountains, lie the upper 
branches of the great river Kuskokwim. 
Sandstone and slate continue throughout this portion of the Yukon Val¬ 
ley. . . . There are few tributaries of importance in this section of the river, 
but there are many small streams. The Takaiak joins the river some 50 miles 
below Nulato, and the Anvik about 110 miles lower down. The latter has 
steep banks and swift waters. About 130 miles below Nulato the Yukon sepa¬ 
rates into two branches, the main stream pursuing a southerly course, and the 
lesser branch, running at first a little south of east, makes finally a great bend to 
the south and west and enters the main river again about 60 miles below the 
point of separation. This lesser branch is called Chageluk Slough, and into it, 
a few miles from its entrance, empties the Chageluk or Innoko River. A little 
below Andreievsky the Yukon bends abruptly to the north and runs about north¬ 
west to the sea. The three principal outlets of the great river are the Aphoon 
or upper, the Kwikpak or middle, and the Kusilvak or lower mouth. The 
Aphoon outlet is about 40 miles in length and has an average width of perhaps 
one-third of a mile. 
During the brief summer, adds Mr. Petroff, the whole popula¬ 
tion docks to the river, attracted by the myriads of salmon. The 
banks are lined with summer villages and camps of fishermen, 
who build their basket traps far out into the eddies and bends of 
the stream and lay up their store of dried fish, or “yukala,” for the 
long arctic winter. The traveler on the river during this busy 
season would form an entirely erroneous idea of the density of the 
population. The surrounding country is drained. Were he to 
make a brief excursion into the almost impenetrable forests and 
over the hills and mountains, he would quickly perceive that 
along the river alone exist the conditions necessary to sustain life 
throughout the year. I he small rivulets of the interior and the 
vast swampy plains covered with snow for seven or eight months 
of the year are only visited by the trapper and hunter when the 
skins of the marten, mink, and muskrat are in their prime. 
\\ here the mountains are higher, along the upper courses of the 
Yukon and the Tanana, game is more abundant and the inhabitants 
are less dependent upon the river and its fish. 
