Provisions gathered together, we sailed from Wrangle 
May 7th, making Peterburg, on Mitkopf Island, that evening. 
Peterburg is a typical Alaskan town, the inhabitants’ prin¬ 
cipal means of support being a large cannery and sawmill. 
The town has no cable connections, although the U. S. War 
Department was at that time establishing a wireless station. 
Made an early start, reaching Eliza Harbor, Admiralty 
Island, shortly before four. Seeing an Indian encampment, May 8 th 
we sent Barney ashore to have a “pow-wow,” and were quite 
thrilled when, on returning, he reported the Indians to have 
BEAR FLAT ON CHOPIN BAY 
seen six bear in a small inlet known as Chopin Bay, only the 
day previous. This being about thirty minutes’ sail from 
Eliza, we fixed our course toward it. 
Seeing a great flock of plover on a rock, we shot into 
them, bagging twenty odd; but already our anticipation for 
bear overtopped interest in other things. A few words, there¬ 
fore, in regard to the mode of hunting these animals upon 
the islands. 
When, about the beginning of May, bear come out of 
their holes, after hibernating all winter, the question of some¬ 
thing to eat is naturally the all-important one with them. 
Nature has so provided that the only foods available at this 
time are skunk-cabbage and grass. These seem not only to 
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