24 ALASKAN MINERAL RESOURCES IN 1904. [bull. 259. 
KOUGAROK REGION. 
The Kougarok region is rapidly increasing its gold output, though 
its isolation has made it an expensive camp to work. Several ditches 
were in operation in 1904, and a number of others were planned and 
under construction. Harris and Dahl creeks have been the heaviest 
producers, but several others besides the main Kougarok River have 
yielded gold in commercial quantities. Attention has repeatedly been 
called to the heavy bench gravels which are characteristic of the 
Kougarok Valley. Some of these are known to be gold bearing, and, 
exploited by proper methods, should become important producers. 
Drilling on Dahl Creek developed bench gravels to a depth of over 
180 feet, thus showing them to extend below present sea level. 
PORT CLARENCE PRECINCT. 
In the Port Clarence precinct the ditch to Sunset Creek was com- 
pleted, but little hydraulicking was done. A number of claims were 
worked in the Bluestone region, but no important developments were 
made. 
FAIRHAVEN PRECINCT. 
The northeastern part of the Seward Peninsula, comprising the 
Kiwalik, Inmachuk, and Buckland placers, is included in the Fair- 
haven precinct. Here the conditions for rapid development are much 
less favorable than in other parts of the peninsula. The open season 
for navigation is somewhat shorter, and supplies for the camp have to 
be transferred at Nome to shallow-draft steamers which can traverse 
the shoal water found at the northern margin of the peninsula. In 
spite of the adverse conditions the region is prosperous. Thanks to 
a local coal supply found at Chicago Creek, considerable winter mining 
was done. Very little ditch work has been done in this region, but 
plans have been laid looking toward an improvement of the present 
methods of mining. 
GOODHOPE PRECINCT. 
There has been but little mining in the Goodhope district, which 
embraces the extreme northern part of the peninsula. Though gold 
occurs in the beds of a number of the tributaries of Serpentine River, 
under present conditions it probably can not be extracted at a profit. 
KOBUK DISTRICT. 
The reports from Kobuk River indicate that there were upward o 
100 men prospecting in this region, and many appear to find encour 
agement in what they have discovered. Whatever may be the poten I 
tial resources, the actual gold output of the placers has probably no 
