ALASKA. 27 
gold discoveries. The observations were made with standard instruments, and 
are wholly reliable. The mean temperature of the months October, 1889, to 
April, 1890, both inclusive, are as follows: October, 33 degrees; November, 8 
degrees; December, 11 degrees below zero; January, 17 degrees below zero; 
February, 15 degrees below zero; March, 6 degrees above zero; April, 20 
degrees above. The daily mean temperature fell and remained below the freez¬ 
ing point (32) from November 4, 1889, to April 21, 1890, thus giving 168 days 
as the length of the closed season of 1889-90, assuming the outdoor operations 
are controlled by temperature only. 
The lowest temperatures registered during the winter were: 32 degrees below 
zero in November, 47 below in December, 59 below in January, 55 below in 
February, 45 below in March, 26 below in April. 
The greatest continuous cold occurred in February, 1890, when the daily 
mean for five consecutive days was 47 degrees below zero. The weather mod¬ 
erated slightly about the 1st of March, but the temperature still remained below 
the freezing point. Generally cloudy weather prevailed, there being but three 
consecutive days in any month with clear weather during the whole winter. 
Snow fell on about one-third of the days in winter, and a less number in the 
early spring and late fall months. 
Greater cold than that here noted has been experienced in the United States 
for a very short time, but never has it continued so very cold for so long a time. 
In the interior of Alaska, the winter sets in as early as September, when snow¬ 
storms may be expected in the mountains and passes. Headway during one of 
these storms is impossible, and the traveler who is overtaken by one of them is 
indeed fortunate if he escapes with his life. Snowstorms of great severity may 
occur in any month from September to May, inclusive. 
The changes of temperature from winter to summer are rapid, owing to the 
great increase in the length of the day. In May the sun rises at about 3 a. m. 
and sets about 9 p. m. In June it rises about 1.30 in the morning and sets at 
10.30, giving about twenty hours of daylight, and diffuse twilight the remainder 
of the time. 
The mean summer temperature of the interior doubtless ranges between 60 
and 70 degrees, according to elevation, being highest in the middle and lower 
Yukon valleys. 
Speaking of the temperature of St. Michael’s and vicinity, 
Mr. Petroff quotes from Mr. E. W. Nelson’s report (1880) to 
the Chief Signal Officer: 
During the past four years, the first mush-ice has begun to form in the bays 
from the 15th to the 18th of October, and the bays have been frozen over so 
