The Alaska daily empire., 1917-09-10

hunting license and they are protect ed on the American side.
 Two members of the party spent an afternoon in one place where there had been at least thirty moose within three days previous. A mead ow of two hundred acres was tram pied down like COW pasture, and at least every fifty feet moose bed was encountered. There are thou sands of acres of ground of the same character along the river where the moose range. Every sand bar and flat on which the party landed was covered with moose tracks. The bear are numerous and range up and down from the mouth clear to the upper end. Tracks were encountered everywhere and several bear were seen by the members of the party.
 Goat Plentiful
 Mountain goat are plentiful and were seen on nearly every mountain along the river. Members of the party counted over 50 goats on one mountain spur about 4,500 feet high which fell abruptly into the river. The goats were peacefully feeding, and did not seem to become fright ened at the noise made by the boat in passing.
 Mink, land otter. martin, porcupine, wolverine, lynx, pheasants, grouse, eagles, crows, ravens, ducks, geese, and other smaller animals and birds abound in the valley Many tracks were found which indicated their presence and in many cases the ami mals and birds were seen. Coyotes and wolves were encountered and grasshoppers were numerous.
 There is an abundance of fishing, and although the main river is slightly muddy from the glacier de- posit which it carriers, there are hundreds of smaller clear water side streams which empty into the river which abound in trout. The mem bers of the party on the last day caught several large cut-throat trout from one stream near the lower end of the river.
 Mining Opportunities
 With the establishment of regu- lar boat service which will allow prospectors and others to reach the upper river there is every liklihood of many valuable mining claims be. ing discovered Contacts were ire. quently seen and traced across the vv,n, fat xx,i4I La several large deposits were seen which had every indication of car rying mineral. In at least two plac- es entire mountains were seen which carry ore indications and which may prove valuable some day. Deposits of black sand were found and as no gold pan was taken with the party greasy wash basin was used to test the deposit The test indi- cated that flour gold existed, and it is possible that placer will some day be discovered along the river and tributaries.
 The farthest point reached by the party was about four miles down river from the mouth of the Inklin river, which point is said to be just a miles from the end of Atlin Lake. It Is planned to establish a trading post at this point this fall, and next spring 1t is hoped to secure a great deal of the trade of the Indians of the interior section which now goes to Telegraph Creek, 200 miles and farther away
 The Cassiar could have proceed. ed clear to the mouth of the Inklin, but as the party had delayed con siderable to explore and fish, it was decided to turn back.
 The entire time of the run from Juneau to the point where the party turned back was II hours actual run. ming time, the trip down the river to the road camp was made in less than three hours.
 Capt. Strong Pleased
 Capt. Strong is exceedingly well pleased with the results of the trip which have demonstrated the prac tibility of navigation of the river, which he says is much easier than the Stickine. At no time was it nec- essary to put out a line to assist the engines of the boat in driving her through the swift water, and no exceedingly dangerous places were found. The river is free from large boulders and there are only about five dangerous places in the entire distance travelled by the party. and these are easily removed.
 The water in the river was at it's lowest stage during the trip. and with high water the boat can made the trip without the slightest diff culty. On this trip 1t was neces- sary to go slow and careful, as no one of the party knew the channel or the depth of water at any point Capt. Strong stated that in his opin- ion sufficient business can be devel- oped up the river from Juneau to keep his boat busy. and he Is plan ming to build a smaller and faster boat for the Inklin river.
 The members of the party making the trip all returned very enthusias- tic ahOut the futuro poos}h}Iffins Of