Arizona silver belt., 1889-06-22
Alaska and It's Resources.
Scientific American.l


 sions of the United States into equal parts. The Alaskan archipelago ex- tends as far 10 the west of San Fran. CISCO as Maine is east ot it. We arc furthermore not apt to realize that the coast line of Alaska exceeds that ol the United States, and that it's terri tory IS equal in extent to tie portion of the United States east of the Aissis- sippi river. Its islands are some l, ,l00 in number, and its scenery IS as grand and rugged, with its abrupt head lands, its gigantic rayines, its snow covered mountains and glaciers, and enormous rivers, as any on this con tinent. It has population of about 2,000, only 5000 of whom are whites.
 The few towns that are to be found are scattered along the coast, and are l principally trading and fishing sta tsns, The most important Is Sitka, | formerly ths seat of the Russian gov ernor, and at that time called New Archangel. It has 2 population of about l 300, and is the headquarters eff the United States authorities. It has Notifications, magazines, and an magnetic observatory, and has a Greek church and bishop. It also boasts of training school for Indian children. The influences of civilization have [ wrought a great change in tue natives, who were formerly very turbulent and savage.
 The Russian block house, was for merly garrisoned with Russian fierce. but 1t Is nov abandoned On a rocky poin; rear Sitka IS situated the castle, which, in spite of its rugged walls and severe aspect, possesses its seccrts and its romance. It was formerly tha abode of a Russian princess who held sway n the territory, and who was murdered in her own home in tue midst of gay revels by jealanr ad- mIrer.
 One of the most curious practices ol the natives is their methods of diSpos. ing of the dead. The bodies of the departed are ererrated and deposited Tn leg houses. which are surmounted sy some carved object in wood, yhich IS supposed 10 guard the ashes Of the deceased whose bones lie beneath. 1 These images are the tetems Of the families whose bones repose in the houses beneath. Cremation has been generally abandoned sInce the arrival of the missionaries. 1ote1s of diff fcrent type are represented n another view. These poles are very tall, and are elaborately carved with stone hatchets. and are considered great works of art by the natives. The carvings are emblematic of important events Tn the history of the chief in whose honor the totem has been raised. Each family or subdivision of tribe has its own totem. and these nlonu- men;s serve to distinguish between families much as armorial bearings did in the middle ages. Each child belongs to the tribe and family of its mother, as the father is not considered m the ligbt of a relation,
 Gold Is found in some quantity, Fishing, however. is a mora impor- tant industry and one which is being very rapidly developed Nineteen salmon canneries are now in opera ton in Alaska, and very few realize how the waters of Alaska abound in salmon. They are much more ru- merous than they are in the prolific waters of California, Oregon and Washington Territory, Thousands have been taken, so we are informed in recent government report, by a single haul of tue seine. We quote the following from this report;
 "0n the southeast shores of the Alaskan peninsula, in the bays with small streams entering into them, the salmon are crowded so thiekly that the progress of the boat is impeded by them, and should southeast storm suddenly arise at such seasons, the fish are driven on the beach in innu- merable quantities. One of the Rus sian nayigaiors assured us (lS60 that l under such circumstances he has seen the beach strewn two or three feet deep with stranded salmon. Vaneou- yer has recorded that he saw them m Burroughs Inlet Cast up on the beach m great numbers" l." This all sounds indeed like fish story. but we must not look upon it askance. as 1t ap- pears in government records, advance sheets of which have been received by US from the San Francesca Burean of tho United States Coast and Geodstie Survey.
 The salmon fisheries have increased very rapidly. In 1887 eighteen yes sels were engaged in the traffic and 10000 cases of salmon were exported. In 1888 the number of vessels had in. creased to twenty-eight and between