Geographical Notes

Abstract

IN the Transactions of the Berlin Geographical Society (May-June) is an intere-ting paper by Herr Arthur Krause on Southeastern Alaska, or that strip of coast stretching from Mount Elias to Fort Simpson, comprehending about 120 miles breadth of continent, and the numerous islands lying alongside of it. Herr A. Krause passed the winter of 1882 with his brother at a factory to the north of the Lynn Canal, making short tours the following spring into the interior, as far as the Yukon district, and Herr Krause's paper is the result of his observations. The lower course of the Yukon River, as far as Fort Yukon, has been traced and astronomically observed by Raymond in his “Reconnaissance of the Yukon River, 1871.” Its upper course and sources, on the other hand, have only seldom been visited by people of the Hudson's Bay Company and by gold seekers. The most important head stream is the Polly River, which springs from France's Lake on the west of the Rocky Mountains. From the south the Polly receives a powerful current, figuring in certain maps as the Lewis River. A northern offshoot of the Lynn channel cuts so deeply into the interior that in two short days' marches you can pass thence to the Yukon river. To the north of the Lynn Channel is the varied district of Chileat, forming the watershed between the coast and the Yukon river, and parting two distinct zones of flora and fauna. The Chileat district, like the whole of the west coast, is mountainous, and its peaks condensing the vapour driven by western winds from the warmer region of the sea, the whole western tract is distinguished by its violent falls of rain in summer and snow in winter, as also by its abundance of glaciers. Glacier Bay, to the west of the entrance of the Lynn Channel, is quite filled with ice in consequence of vast glaciers falling into it. All the valleys, too, along the coast abound in glaciers. As soon, however, as the watershed and the slope towards Yukon river are reached, the glaciers disappear. With this change also appears a corresponding change in vegetable and animal forms. The low banks and islands along the coast are covered with poplars, alders, willows, and thickets. Higher up on the slopes you meet a thick belt of pine. A few green trees of diminutive size, birch, maple, and mountain ash, may be observed, but these are mostly interwoven in the enormous thick underwoods of the pine forests. In some lower-lying spots an almost tropical luxuriance of vegetation surprises the traveller. On the inland side of the watershed the whole physiognomy of vegetation is in striking contrast with that on the sea side—is barer, drier, and lighter. Instructive particulars are also given by Herr Krause regarding the fur and fishing trades of this region.