LIFE IN ALASKA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1700, 1 November 1887, Page 3

LIFE IN ALASKA

- According to Mr Seton Karr, a brother of the M.P. for St Helen's, who has an aocoant of an attempt to ascend Mount Ellas m Alaska, ealmon abound m that country. In Borne plaoea ealmon were so plentiful that the streams oontained more fish than water. There were 12 salmon to two square yardß of fluid. A spoon bait tied to a Btrong line which was held m (he hand and thrown m, waa aare to hook one fish oat of a struggling, helpless, moving mass. Tbe natives maintain that there are six kinds — the cluivichct, or king Baltnon, the red, the silver, the steelhead, the hogback, and the dog salmon. The chavicha reaoheß a length of 6ft and a weight of 1001 b. Apparently the three firstnamed are the only fish good ior salting and " canning," as it Is termed. The dog salmon Is a ooarae kind, " with large teeth and scales. " Some kinds of game were plentiful. Ptarmigan and blue grouse were numerous, add there were bears and goats, with wild fowl, m the autumn and winter. Strawberrie9,currantß, blackberries, and cranberries grow m marvellous profusion and were to be had to any amount for the gathering. This abnndanoe of fhh and fruit maintained the Alieut In idleness, only interrupted by an occassinnal hunt for the sea otter. A brisk trade is carried on between the native trappers and the merchants from San Francisco, who every Bprlng bring cheap olothiog, fl mr, tobacco, lard, and " notions " to be exchanged for the skioß of tbe fox, bear, lynx, marten, and sea ottra. Xt Nuohuk the author was looky enough to pick ap a diary written by an American named John Bremner, who formed one of an expedition la the year 1885, wintered oo the Copper river, and came down the Yukon. John Bremner's opinion of the natives was not high I They gorged themselves with the flesh of the moo*e, told lies, wonld not carry the writer's supplies, stole his tea and ; sugar, and made more lamer taUons over three- dogs lost m a hole fn the ico than over one of their numb r who waß drowned by the cipßi'z'ng of a raft. Bremn?r thought that he could stand the cold bettor thin the aborigine*, and was warm and comfortable, though one whisker froze fast to his pillow m the night. He oared ona of the females, whoa* husband came to him, sb a *' big medicine," by giving her a good wash and a mustard plaster. He earns up his experiences by saying that though the country waa not fitted for a winter campaign, bb troops would freeze to death, yet the climate was dry and the oountry endurable, if it were not for tbe thieving and lying propensities of the Indians. One very tragical incident marked the. close of Mr Seton Karr'a expedition. The general agent tf the Alaska Company, Mr B, G. M'lntyre, wan ihot as he wbb sitting at supper with the author and two others. The murderer was believed to be one Peter Anderson, a Don Cossack, who owed money to the agent, and thought that to ihoot a creditor, Irish fashion, was tbe best way of oieariog off the debt. It does uot appear that the murderer was erer caught, i As to the attempt to reaoh the summit of Mount Fliaa, it may be said that it waa a failare, the Esquimaux having deserted ihe party. Mr Seton-Karr and Lieutenant Woods, of the United Stated army, reached a height of 7200 ft, but everything was obscured by miet,