GOLD IN SOLOMON AND NIUKLUK BASINS. 147 
very costly machine, and unless an area of sufficient size and rich- 
ness to repay the cost of the dredge and pay interest on the invest- 
ment is obtained it is better not to consider this form of mining. It 
may seem a waste of time to state so self-evident a fact, but the 
number of abandoned dredges which have not paid for themselves in 
different parts of Seward Peninsula bears ample testimony to the 
neglect of this most simple precaution. 
LODE MINING. 
Work at the Big Hurrah mine on Big Hurrah Creek has continued 
during the past year on practically the same scale as formerly. No 
new developments had occurred at the time of the writer's visit. 
This mine still continues to be the only productive lode-gold mine in 
the entire district. About forty or forty-five men are employed at 
the mine and at the stamp mill, which is close to the mine. 
PLACER MINING. 
During the winter of 1905-6 work in the Solomon River region was 
carried on much more extensively than during the previous winter. 
It was recognized that the lower wages paid during the winter, 
coupled with the fact that the walls in deep gravel cuts stand better 
than when the frost is out of them in the summer and caving takes 
place, allowed the most economical development of many of the 
properties. From reliable sources it has been ascertained that ap- 
proximately forty men were employed on Solomon River and its 
tributaries during the winter of 1905-6. Though no accurate figures 
could be obtained, it is estimated that about $75,000 was taken out 
during the winter. The figures for the production during the last 
summer are too vague to permit even an approximate statement. 
OTUKLUK RIVER BASIN. 
The areas in the Niukluk basin in which minerals of economic 
importance have been worked during the last year may be described 
according to their geographic position on the different tributaries of 
the river. The main productive tributary streams from the mouth 
of the Niukluk toward the head are Fox River, Melsing, Ophir, Gold- 
bottom, and Elkhorn creeks, and Casadepaga River. 
BENCH GRAVELS OF THE NIUKLUK. 
In the whole region there are practically no winter mines, and this 
has a very detrimental effect on the growth of the district. The 
miners are driven to some of the other camps which offer winter 
work; and those who are faithful and industrious are retained in the 
field to which they have gone, and only those of lesser ability drift 
