Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26

reporter concerning the natives and Ice Of al
least portion of that interesting country.
An act OF Congress approved March 2, 1889,
stated: THAT the commissioner Of fish and
fisheries is hereby empowered and directed to
institute an investigation into the habits abund-
ance and distribution Of the salmon of Alaska,
as well as the present methods and conditions
OF the fisheries, with view of recommending
to Congress such additional legislation as may
be necessary to prevent the impairment or ex-
haustion Of these valuable fisheries, and placing
them under regular and permanent conditions
OF production"
Following out these instructions Commits
sioner Mcdonald appointed DR.. Bean to pro-
coed to Alaska and carry on the investigation.
DIR. BEANS PARTY.
The party, besides DR.. Bean, who WAS in
charge, consisted of Franklin Booth of the
University of California, R. E. Lewis Of Wash
ington and Livingston Stone of California.
MIR. Booth had charge especially Of the survey
ing. while Mr.. Stone was to investigate the pos
sibilities of fish culture in Alaska. The party
was directed to proceed to Kodiak Island. of
the southern coast Of Alaska, after which large
latitude was given as to the operations Of the
party.
ON THE KARLuK RIVER.
DIR. Bean left San Francisco on July 8, reach
the karluk river on Kodiak Island on August
2, where he remained until the 18th Of Sep
TENDER, when he returned to San Francisco.
Thus, he spent the entire time on Kodiak
Island, which was found to fully answer the
purposes OF the investigation, as more salmon
are taken from the Karluk river than from all
the other streams added together.
KODIAK ISLAND.
If you will take map of Alaska you will dis
cover just of the southern coast an island
marked Kodiak. This was the scene Of the in
vestgation The island is about 100 miles long
by 100 miles broad and contains only one river
Of any size-the Karluk-on the west side flow
ing into Shelikoff strait. The Karluk river is
small, narrow, very crooked and rapid. At its
head there is a long series Of fresh-water lakes,
The first is miles in length and has several
large tributary lakes one being about miles
in length. Short. rapid and very crooked
streams connect all these lakes.
DIR. Bean describes Kodiak Island as traversed
in all directions by ranges Of mountains not
exceeding $500 feet in height. The country is
well timbered except in the southern half. the
trees being generally of the cone-b bearing fam
lily, although alder, willow and cottonwood
trees are found in grea. abundance. On Afog-
max, which is a neighboring island, the pines
reach height of 80 feet.
FERTILE REGION.
The cost of Kodiak Island is indented by
large bays. The soil is very rich, but in some
parts extremely DOGGY, and is everywhere COW
cred with a luxuriant growth of rank grass,
rising to the height of a man. Long burrows
are gouged out of the soil by means Of glacier
or frost action, and ones progress is constantly
lmpeded by the interlacing roots and limbs Of
the dwarf trees covering the island.
The scenery, however, is exceedingly fine,
the outlines Of the mountains rising in grace
full curves, the vast forests stretching away into
the distance, while the crystal streams 20
dashing and tumbling on their swift conrse to
the sea.
PROPULSION OF WILD FLOWERS
Wild flowers are found in the greatest abund-
ance, the monkshead, forget-me-not, golden
rod blue gentian, cranes bill, violet, wild rose
and fir weed being found on every hand and
not growing singly, but in such masses az to
form features of the landscape. There is also
great profusion Of berries of the commoner
varieties. Every valley in the interior has its
rushing little stream Of cool pure water.
The climate Of Kodiak Island is of interest
to the persons who always associate Alaska
with snow shoes and skating Kinks, without the
buildings. The winters at Kodiak are no severer
than in New England. while Dr. Bean de-
scribes the weather during his visit as being
delightful in the extreme. The soil yields rich
crops OF cereals, while for grazing the country
ID unsurpassed.
DR.. Bean and his associates, however, made
this long trip to look into fishing pure and
simple. and they saw Enough Of it to give them
distaste for the rest of their natural existence
for such triflng business as sitting in q boat
with pole and a worm trying to lure the willy
foh