28 THE PORCUPINE PLACER DISTRICT, ALASKA. [bull. 236. 
The first locations here were made in September of 1898 by Joe 
Chisholm. During the following spring and summer a number of 
prospectors came into this region and located all the surrounding hill- 
sides, without discrimination. Many have been abandoned and the 
properties still owned represent only a few of the original number. 
Several tunnels of various lengths have been driven on the Custer 
ledge, which prove it to be very persistent in depth, as the outcrops 
show it is along the strike. 
A detailed description of the claims staked in 1809 is given in the 
annual report of the Minister of Mines of Canada for 1900. The 
following assay is quoted from his report: "A general sample over 
3 feet of the Custer ledge gave an assay of gold 50 cents, silver 2 
ounces, copper 1.2 per cent, lead 3 per cent, zinc 5.5 per cent." 
METHODS OF MIXING. 
On Porcupine Creek one finds the primitive methods of recovering 
gold ordinarily employed in partly developed placer districts. The 
miners have been obliged to make much out of little. With imple- 
ments such as picks, shovels, whipsaws, and canvas hose, which they 
are able to carry to the place of working, they build ditches, flumes, 
and sluice boxes, and install small hydraulic plants. Under these con- 
ditions the richest deposits are sought out and worked, though fre- 
quently with little economy. When available pockets have been 
exhausted work comes to a standstill, claim holders cease developing 
and do only annual assessment work, with the expectation of eventu- 
ally selling out to companies who can consolidate interests and mine 
on an extensive and economical basis. During the last few years, 
however, several small sawmills have been erected by different parties, 
large flumes have been built, and hydraulic plants and bucket eleva- 
tors installed; but equipments are still insufficient and no progress had 
been made toward consolidation up to the close of the season of 1903. 
GROUND SLUICING. 
As the best pay dirt is usually at the bottom of the creeks, it is 
necessary to remove the overlying gravel wash by some economical 
method. The stream must first be diverted into a flume built up on 
trestle work or running on one side of the creek. The creek bottom 
being freed from water, the large bowlders are piled along the banks 
of the stream, those too heavy to move being broken by sledge ham- 
mers and powder. A narrow channel built up of bowlders is thus 
formed, which serves to confine the stream and increase its velocity, so 
that on being turned back into the creek bed it is able to carry off 
material which it could not otherwise have moved. The miners often 
enter this swift-flowing stream and by the use of shovels help the 
larger rocks downstream and off the claim. From time to time the 
