The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-01
CURIO SHOP
HOW ALASKAN EXPLORERS STEAM.
Err LOOKED ON ITS RETURN.
Rare Birds and Anthropological Spe.
Muir's Disc0v cred.

SEATTLE, Wash, July 31.-When the
steamer George w. Elder. which carried the
Hartman scientific party to Alaska, arrived
here yesterday she resembled floating Gu
riosity shop, stocked with everything
Alaska, from totem pole five feet through
and sixty feet high to the minutest insect.
DR.. c. Hart Merriam, chief Of the United
States Biological Survey. said: 1.-The prin-
cipal result of the voyage of the Hartman
party to the northwest was the collection
of much valuable data regarding the distri
button of animals and birds in the far north.
Several important discoveries were made.
ION Hall island and st. Matthew'S island,
for example, we found and collected many
specimens of what is called the Arctic
snowflake a most exquisite bird much re.
sembling the snow bunting. 1t is almost
snow white, about the size Of robin and is
Of the bunting family. Heretofore the bird
has been regarded as very rare and in the
National Museum at Washington there are
but few poor specimens. But on both the
islands mentioned we found the bird in great
numbers. and made complete collections of
it and it's nests and eggs. Here also we
found the Lapland longspur, a northern
song bird, also very rare, in abundance.
Another discovery was yellow leming
mouse never found elsewhere, and of which
the National Museum had but one poor
specimen. We secured many more and stud
led its habits.
William Z. Ritter, president of the Cal
ifornia Academy Of Sciences and professor
Of zoology in the University of California,
made a valuable collection Of invertebrates,
many of which may prove entirely new"
Henry Gannett, chief OF the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey, devoted himself
TO study OF the glaciers OF Alaska, many
Of which had never been mapped or named:
Alaska are gradually retreating, due, he
thinks to climatic changes. Columbia
glacier. discovered and named by the Harri-
man party, is situated on Prince William
sound. Hubbard glacier, also discovered by
the Hartman party. Is larger than Muir
glacier and has frontage OF over five
miles on Yakutat bay. Many new fiords,
bays and inlets were discovered, mapped
and named by Mr.. Gannett.
DR.. George b. Grinnell. editor Of Forest
and Stream, said: THE most interesting
incident of the voyage to my mind was at
sea birds In northern waters. They nest
there on the cliffs in countless numbers.
One interesting fact in regard to the fish
ing industry learned while in Alaska and
that Is that the salmon in the streams of
the Territory are being rapidly EXTERN
mated. Some steps for the preservation of
this fish should be taken before 1t is too
late"
B. FL Fournow, director of the New York
State College Of Forestry, made extensive
research into the timber resources of
Alaska, with results not fattering to that
Territory. He says the timber resources OF
mated and that in reality the forests of
Alaska will have little commercial value
for years to come. Il was disappointed in
not, finding in Alaska many, trees that 1
had supposed grew there" he said. THE
botanists of the expedition found few bot
anically interesting species"