The times., 1897-07-31

mate OF Alaska. He said: i have heen
able to collect and compile much valuable
recorded information and have received
many interesting facts from other arctic
navigators.
Tho existence OF branch of the Japan
stream carrying to this coast its waters,
with a high thermal condition, imposes
at the outset the nece ssity of a high iso-
thermal line aong the whole northwest
coast of America The thernometric rec
ords and the botany of the whole region
ADDS its certain confirmation.
The whole southeast coast of the Alaska
peninSularis Ia thed with this warlf waters,
which retain a high temperature as far
down as KadEk, thence westward this
temperature decreases, although the lati-
tude decreases.
The report Of DIR. Kellogg exhibits
flora that could not exist in this latitude
without an unusually high isotherInal con-
dition, accompanied with great con-
densa:ion OF vapor and precipitation of
rain In the matter of shells the influence
of the Asiatic current is shown by the
presence of several species OF Halious,
While EfflutNN WIFI the OA hCS0
America is strongly indicated
From gold miners who had been for
ten years on the Suikine River oehouch-
ing in latitude SO degrees north, learned
that east OF the coast range of noun
tains the summers are comparatively dry
and warm, and the winters severe enough
TO compel a stoppage OF inning operations
The country in there, Understood, was
covered with a sparse growth Of small
trees.
Major Pope, who long time ago was
engaged in exploring the inland route for
the Russian American Telegraph line, re
ported that in latitude % degrees north
and longitude l26 degrees west ground
fee can lie found at any time of the year
at a depth of from six TO eight feet below
the surface. and IN that region the surface
usually freezes 20 the depth of two fees IN
the winter leaving an intervening stratum
OF unfrozen soil from four TO SIX feet
thick The ground ice does not prevent
the growth Of vegetables-a fact confirmed
by SeemAn ia his Botany OF II. NJ 8. Her
aid, S45-l SJ1, in Western Eskimo Land.
In that region he found vegetation flourish
fig where the ground Ice was but Two
feet from the surface
The records of the Sitka Magnetic and
Meteorological Observatory, on Japonsh
IsIHnd, an institution established by the
Russian-American Trading Company, shows
weather conditions for all the years back
70 IS47 The coolest month recorded
was November, 1858, when the mean
temperature of the month was only 19
degrees. with hut "a fall of half an inch OF
snow and strong northeast winds. The
highest mean temperature for any month
within the period indicated was July, 1850
when the meanteniperature was5S degrees
The average annual amount of rain. melted
enow and hail that fell was $3.50 inches
or within a fraction of seven feet. whichis
iess than the annual rainfall at the mouth
OF the Columbia River. The average an
nual number OF US on which rain. snow
or hail fell or heavy fogs prevailed was
245, or two days out of every three, while
81 does not follow that the other days had IL
clear sky
s'The enormous amount OF rainfall along
d sea aboard essentially cloudy has its normal
effect upon the class of vegetation that
will succeed in ripening under such con-
0itions of climate. The whole extent
OF the country subject to these rains is
covered with sphagnUm from one to two
feet in depth, and even on the steepest
hillsides this carpet is saturated with
water, and renders progress through it
very difficult and slow. especially when
there is heavy growth Of wood andunder-
brUsh. This sphagnum is one of the
main features OF Alaska 1t is a thick
moss covering the face OF the country from
the middle Of Vancouver Island to the end
OF the AleUiian Islands. 1t forms soft
cushion into which the traveller sinks
at least TO his boot top at every sten
lit appears to be very similar TO the
vegetable claterial from which the peat
beds in the temperate zone are formed.
At Fort Simpson, the Stikine, Chilkahl
Kadiak, rnalasRa, and the islands to the
west ward, this morsss exists to the sum
mits, or the snow line, of the mountains.
In no part Of the country, except on two
or three mountains sides on Chatham
Strait, and the mouth of the Chilkat have
j seen herbage or trees destroyed by
fire as is 20 universally resorted to In
Oregon ard Washington, both by the
natives and the settlers.
''The prevailing winds in winter arc
easterly, and If from the soutward arr
accompanied by rain or snow; when from
and cold The stormy weather commences
In October, ST orms and tempests are
frequent ia November and December. and
aurora borealis is seen frequently, and is
very brilliant during clear, cold nights
The winter weather breaks up about
the end of March, and the trading begins
In April March, April, May, June, July,
and Sometimes August, are, as rule,
good months
Il don't understand this racket which
the Yukon miners are giving us about 5p
degrees below zero weather in Alaska
said another Arctic expert to a reporter
for the Times.
The general opinion OF the old nayi-
gators aud Tar traders who visited and
sometimes wintered In Alaska was thai
after the middle OF September it was
next TO impossible to continue their exami-
nations or trading trips and they either
sought more southern attitudes or wIntered
In some well-sheltered harhor. The latter
WIS generally avoided on account of the
losses sustained ,n their crews by the
ravages OF scurvy.
'fhe following extracts from Meares'
introduction 10 his narrative must be taken
with the knowledge that he wintered at
Prince William Sound under very unfavor-
able circumstances in small bay close
under the north flank of high mountains
that did not allow the rays of the sun to
reach him. He had at noon in midwinter
but faint and glimmering light, the
meridian sGn not being higher than de-