22 
venient to acceptable harbors. The Sitka spruce predominates, 
and in some cases attains enormous dimensions ; this timber is 
well adapted for staves, headings and wharves. Yellow cedar 
is very abundant, has a close grain, remarkable elasticity, and 
is well adapted for the general purposes of shipbuilding, is 
proof against the sea worm, and makes good bottom plank, 
ceiling, clamps, bends, and a superior article for deck plank; 
the Eussians have used this wood successfully in ship and other 
building for nearly a century, and it has given general satis¬ 
faction. “ The prevailing forest tree is the Sitka spruce, 
growing to a great size, covering every foot of ground, and 
climbing the steepest mountain sides to the height of 2500 feet 
above the sea. We measured felled trees of this spruce that 
were 184 feet long, and four feet thick at the butt, while adjacent 
standing trees were over six feet in diameter, and branchless for 
over fifty feet. Hemlock, alders and willows are found, but the 
most valuable wood of the country is the yellow cedar, with a 
fine even texture, fragrant smell, good size a*nd greater strength 
than the spruce. We first called public attention to the Port 
Oxford white cedar in 1851, and while admitting its many good 
qualities, we have no hesitation in saying that the yellow cedar 
of Alaska is a much superior wood; it is readily worked, takes 
a smooth surface, and is remarkably durable. It will make a 
valuable addition to the cabinet woods of the California market, 
is superior as a ship timber to any on the coast, and from our 
short examination we are satisfied that it may be obtained of 
ample size for the frames and knees of ordinary sized vessels. 
At Skalitch anchorage one was measured eighteen feet in cir¬ 
cumference, and estimated at over 120 feet in height. We ob¬ 
tained and forwarded part of the keelson and frame of one of 
the Eussian American Company’s small vessels which was con¬ 
structed of this wood over thirty-two years ago, and had been 
lying a wreck on the beach several years; it exhibits not the 
least sign of decay or toredo attacks, the wood around the iron 
and copper bolts is nearly as well preserved as on the day they 
were driven. The hulls of all the trading and fishing vessels 
on this new coast may be constructed of this durable wood upon 
any of the innumerable bays of the Alexander Archipelago ; we 
have seasoned a small piece of it for one year in a dry, warm 
room, and it has a weight indicating twenty-six pounds to the 
cubic foot; under ordinary seasoning the weight would be over 
thirty pounds.” — Davidson. 
