22 PETROLEUM OF PACIFIC COAST OF ALASKA. [bull. 250. 
ECONOMIC MATERIALS. 
PETROLEUM. 
Petroleum seepages. — Petroleum seepages are very abundant in the 
Controller Bay region. Those which are best known are situated 
about 4 miles east of Katalla. The flow of oil here is very large, and 
good-sized pools have collected on the surface. Another group of seep- 
ages is on the headwaters of Burls Creek, where the petroleum may 
be seen oozing from the joints and bedding planes of the carbonaceous 
shales and volcanic ash beds which are exposed in the deep ravines. 
The quantity of petroleum here showing is not so large as at the seep- 
ages east of Katalla, but it is more widespread. The small stream 
between Burls Creek and Bering River has several seepages along its 
bank. Seepages occur, too, in other parts of the peninsula between 
Bering Lake and Controller Bay and in the region west of Katalla. 
The so-called " Nitchawak region," which is situated on the banks of 
the various branches of Nitchawak River and in the vicinity of Mount 
Nitchawak, also presents a number of seepages. Some of these are 
located on the banks of a small lake, which is reported to be at times 
covered with petroleum. The small creeks which enter Little Nitch- 
awak River from the north have a number of seepages on their banks, 
in some of which oil issues directly from the rock, which is here a 
shale. The canyon north of Lone Baldy Mountain and between it 
and Ragged Mountain contains a number of seepages, in which the 
oil may be seen oozing from the cracks of the rock. 
A strong flow of gas bubbles to the surface of the water at a num- 
ber of places along the lower course of Katalla River. In places this 
flow is so strong that it can be heard for a distance of several hundred 
feet. The composition of the gas is not known. Several large sul- 
phur springs issue from the northern bank of Bering River within a 
mile on either side of the Indian village. 
Most of the seepages between Katalla and Bering River fall approx- 
imately on three straight lines, each having a general northeast-south- 
west direction. These lines are nearly parallel to the strike in their 
vicinity, and are undoubtedly influenced in position and direction by 
the structure. They probably represent the outcrops of oil-bearing 
strata. The easternmost of them is on the western flank, but very 
close to the crest of the Chilkat Creek anticline. The westernmost is 
on the eastern flank and about halfway down the Katalla anticline. 
Those in the valley of Burls Creek are in a less certain structural 
position. 
The gas springs on the banks of Katalla River are probably located 
on or near the crest of the Katalla anticline. 
