Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-07
DIFFICULTIES OF THE CENSUS
The Hard Times Experienced by an
Agent in Alaska.

The difficulties in the way Of collecting
census statistics in Alaska are set forth in part
| in the following letter which Superintendent
Porter has received from Mr.. Marshall McDon-
aid, the United States fish commissioner:
! i'Tbeg to transmit for your information the
following extract from letter recently received
from Lieut. Commander 2. L. Tanner, U.S.N.,
commanding the fish commission steamer Alba
| tross, now in Behring sea. The letter was
dated Unalashka, June 16, 1880, and was long
time on the way.
ION the 9Th Mr.. Ivan Petron, census agent
for the territory of Alaska, came on board and
reported that he had failed in his efforts to
reach the Cuskokvim river by the inland route,
as, after working up the Nushagak river for
several days, his crew had mutinied, forcing
him to return. He represented that it was Of
vital importance that he should reach the
former river and earnestly requested
tina, that l Won, would assist him to the best Of
of his work and the difficulty of securing trans
portation along the coast, promised to land
him at the lower village on the Kuskokvim, and
so took him on board, with his crew of three
Esquimaux and two kayaks. had no knowl-
edge OF the dangerous region, no charts that
gave any information. and could not procure q
pilot hence looked forward to our journey
up that river with no little anxiety; but we have
been in great many dangerous places, so that
the exploration Of the Kuskokvim was rather in
our line.
Leaving the Nushagak on the 7th instant we
extended our Investigations to the Walrus
Islands, where we anchored the following day.
While the naturalists were engaged in shore
collecting we located one of them astronomi-
cally, making running survey Of the group
later in the day while on our way to the north
ward AnchorinR in Hagemeister channel at
pm. We gave the naturalists several
hours for shore collecting that evening
and the following morning. Leaving
the channel the next day, we continued our ex-
plorations in the direction of Cape Newenham,
where We arrived at 3:45 a. N. on the 10th in
slant and anchored under its lea to ride out .
gale. which exhausted itself during tho day.
Getting under way at 9:15 am. on the 18th we
entered the Kuskokvim river and were fortunate
enough to reach point some 10 or Is miles
above Good News bay without accident or de-
tention, where we were obliged to anchor, the
shoal water driving so far from land that we
feared We would pass the native village without
recognizing it. Mr.. Petroff placed his belong
lngs In one of the ships boats, which was taken
In tow by the steam gig. and the party landed
about ten miles above our anchorage, where q
camp OF native whalers was found, who prom
lsed 10 assist them to the nearest settle
ment 1t was expected that as soon
as we reached smooth water they would
be able to land In their kayaks, but two of the
three native boatmen were seriously i'll, making
1t absolutely necessary for us to take them to q
point where they could obtain assistance. We
furnished Mr.. Petrof with such articles as he
required and did everything we could to insure
the success of his expedition"