The Ketchikan miner., 1907-05-25

miles. expands into large lake-llke sheet of water. with a length, from east to west, of IS miles, and a breadth north from the mouth of Yakoun River, which is near the southeast angle, of about seven miles. On the south side of this inland lake | d narrow passage, through which the tide rushes with great force, connects with another inland salt water lake known as Tsooskatli, which is nine miles long, one to two and hall miles wide, and contains many small islands. The time of high water in this inland lake is about four hours and half later than at Masset har- bour. To the north of the main ex- pansion of Masset Inlet there is fresh water lake about l4 miles long from east to west, with a maximum breadth of one mile and half, known as Iintsua Lake, which connects with the inlet by the Ain River. All these inland lakes are bordered by high ranges of mountains, including many cone shaped peaks. All are composed of igneons rocks, portions of which are Pre-Cretaceous, and part of lat CT Tertiary age. By the 1intsua Lake a waterway extends nearly across this part of the inland, west of Masset Inlet, ridge of scarcely more than mile in width separating it from the waters of the Pacific Ocean in Kiokathli Inlet, on the west coast ot the island.
 The only harbours along the east coast east of Skioegate Vill- age are three shelters, for small boats only. at the mouths of small streams and accessible only at high state of the tide. At low water they are en- tirelv dry. These are at the mouth of Tllal River about p miles north of Skidegate: at a small creek south of Cape Ball: and at a small lagoon near Cape Fife, about eight miles south of Rose Point. Inside the bends of the creek at these places boats can lie safely sheltered from east winds, but are aground at low tide On the north side a similar high-water shelter for boats is found in Hiellan Creek at Tow Hill, ten niles west of Rose Point. In bad weather, therefore, boat navigation along this coast is very dangerous and many lives have been lost in the vain attempt to reach shelter in some one of these small harbours.
 Along the north shore, Masset and Viraeo Sound are the only harbours of consequence. The entrance to the former is somewhat obstructed by bar on which the water has report ed depth at low tide of three fathoms, but the position of this bar is not fixed. owing to heavy storm and tidal currents. In the inlet, good water extends all the way to the lake eX- pansion though there are heavy tidal currents throughout the entire seven teen miles of the narrow approach
 At Virago Sound, about F miles west. the entrance is somewhat narrow, but there is plenty of water, and once inside the points there is a perfect shelter and good anchorage. The whole island is densely wooded down to the sea-beach. There are no roads or cleared areas in any part and the only trails are those from the shore of Skidegate Harbour inland to the coal areas at Camps Robertson and Wilson, ill the first eight miles in length. and the second about the same distance farther north. The Robert son trail has been carried west to the shore of Yakoun Lake about three miles d istant A horse trall is now being made between Sk;degate post office and the ranch at the mouth of Tllal River about p miles north. Communication between Masset and Skidegate settlements is made either by traversing the beach, distance of more than 100 miles, or by sailboat round by Rose Spit. A few horses are kept at Masset by Indians and bv Rev. Charles Harrison, who has a small ranch called Delkatla three miles east of the Indian village, while a AIr. Hodge at the Tllal has few head of cattle and horses ard a fine piece of natural ranch land. These animals pick mp a living on the wild grasses along the borders of the beaches or in glades in the woods, while on the ranch land at Masset and Tlal considerable quantities of | hay are made from the wild grass on the marsh lands along the creeks. A number of fine cows are also kept at these places and the Indians, both al Masset and Skidegate, own quantity of cattle which run practically wild in the woods for good part of the year. In the northeast part of the islands, towards Rose Point and in rear of Cape Fife, there is also a con- siderable herd of wild cattle. These are being hunted down for the sake of the meat, which is taken to Port Simpson or to one of the Alaskan