12 PETROLEUM OF PACIFIC COAST OF ALASKA. [bull. 250. 
Creek enters Bering Lake from the north at its northeast corner, 
while Nitchawak River enters Bering River from the east between 
the lower end of the lake and Controller Bay. Katalla River and 
a number of small streams drain the peninsula between the lake and 
Controller Bay. The region northwest of the valley of Katalla 
River drains into the Copper River delta. (See PI. III.) 
Most of the lowlands about Controller Bay are covered with a dense 
forest. Spruce and hemlock predominate among the larger trees 
and are of good size and fair quality. This heavy growth extends 
up the hillsides to an elevation of about 1,000 feet, where it gives 
way to less dense timber of the same species and grades into a zone 
in which scrub alders are far in excess of the other trees. In the 
lower part of the valley of Shepherd Creek and in the valley of 
Katalla River there are meadows covered with a luxuriant growth 
of grass. 
The various companies interested in the development of this region 
have built trails from cabin to cabin, and land travel is confined 
to these and to a good wagon road which has been built for about 10 
miles west from the mouth of Bering River to the wells 4 miles east 
of Katalla, with branches up the valleys of Chilkat, Burls, Mary, and 
Redwood creeks. 
There are two short tram roads from the mouth of Redwood Creek 
and from the head of Katalla Slough to neighboring oil w T ells, and 
one tram road from the banks of Shepherd Creek to a neighboring 
coal opening. The network of rivers, however, makes it very easy to 
get about in small boats, so almost all travel is done in that way. 
The most important settlements are Kayak, on Wingham Island, 
which is the steamer landing for the entire region, and the town of 
Katalla, at the mouth of Katalla River. There are no other settle- 
ments except the camps of the various operating companies and 
several small Indian villages. Kayak and Katalla are post-offices. 
GEOLOGY. 
The rocks include a complex series of semimetamorphosed beds, 
some oil-bearing shales, a succession of coal measures, a series of Mio- 
cene sandstones, conglomerates, and shales, a few igneous rocks, and a 
large area of alluvial and glacial deposits. The map (PI. Ill) is based 
on such facts as could be gathered during a hasty reconnaissance. 
SEMIMETAMORPHOSED ROCKS. 
Under this heading is placed a succession of slightly metamor- 
phosed sandstone, limestone, and shale which vary in color from dark 
gray to dull shades of red and green, frequently with a mottled 
