WORK OF THE U. S.
COAST AND GEODETIC
SURVEY IN ALASKA
Capta! J. G. Watkins, hydrogra
phic engineer of the U. S. Coast &
Geodetic Survey, who spent the
summer of 1922 In Northwestern
Alaska taking observations for lati
tude, longitude, azimuth and mag
netic variation and intensity at a
great number of stations from St.
Michael to Demarcation Point, has
It rwarded to John A. Wilson ex
tensive data of the observations
{taken. Capt. Watkins was a tire
less worker, covering a large terri
tory in a short time. A new' mon
ument was set close to 6th Ave. W.
and C street, its position being ia
Lat. 64-30-13 N., Long. 165-23-59
JV. (llh. lm. 36 sec. slower than
Greenwich.) with a mean magnetic
variation of the needle of 18 deg.
83 min. easty
Among other stations determined
are St. Michael, Lat. 63-28-58 N.,
Long. 162-00-41 W., variation 20
deg. 42 min. east.
Teller, Lat. 65-15-57 N., Long.
166-21-21 W., variation 18 deg. 56
min. east.
Point Barrow, Lat. 71-18-40 N.,
Long. 156-50-42 W., variation 22
deg. 46 min. east.
The Coast and Geodetic Survey Is
carrying on work of the greatest
.practical value not only to naviga
tors, but to engineers and scientists.
In its scope of work is included the
charting of the coast, bays and
yivers, issuing Coast Pilot guides
and marine charts, deep#sea sound
ing, prediction of tides and tidal
data, terrestrial magnetism, geo
jflpsy, seismology, precise leveling,
triangulation surveys, oceanogra
The moat exact ana rennea mem
/>ds are in use by the C. ft G. S.'
Time Is determined to 0.02 part of
a second, latitnde to 10 feet, longi
tude to 0.3 second of arc (a dis-1
fence of 30 ft. at the equator,^
azimuth (the direction of a line)
to 1 inch in 10 miles. The tidei
predicting machine in use, designed
'and built bv men In the service, is
a marvel of ingenuity. After hav
ing been adjusted for a particular,
port, the turning of a.c^ank movqp
a system of hands over dials which
show accurately the time of high
and low water, the height of the'
tide at any time, and traces a curyej
pi the tide for each day of the ye*f j
for that particular port. Tidal j
phenomena are of very complex na
ture and predictions cannot be bas
ed on theory alone, but must be
fcpplemented bv actual observ^-j
Hons of the tides for a certain n?r-|
jod of time. To compute predic
tions requires a great deal of time
end the results are not as a^ountfe
as those turned out by the tide pre
dicting machine. .
The magnetic survey undertaken
J;y the C. ft G. 8. is of great aid to
the surveyor and the navigator. The
peedle of the compass points true
north only in a few places and its
variation, or the angle the needle
makes with the true north, is con
stantly changing. At Nome easter
ly variation is decreasing about one
drgree in 15 years.
Magnetic observatories are in op
eration at Sitka, Cheltenham. Md..
Honolulu, Baldwin, Kansas, and
other places. In spite ot modern
Improvements such as the radio
direction finder, gyroscrope com
pass,* wireless time signals, accur
ate chronometers and sextants, the
average mariner of today is as much
dependent on his magnetic compass,
when no landmarks are visible and
the sky is cloudy, as was Columbus
when he set sail for America. To
shape a course correctly, he must
know the "Variation of the needle at
the place he is at. Every chart is
sued by the Survey shows the vari
ation for a certain year and the an
nual rate of change.
All the early land surveys in the
United States were made with the
compass, and in order to retrace
the lines of such a survey when the
corners have disappeared, it is nec
essary to know' the change of the
needle between the time of the orlg-,
inal survey and the resurvey.
The Survey Bureau has records
and data of the annual change in
United States since the date of the
earliest observations.
MfKROiRS OF MAIN STREET.
In our town, as everywhere. I
' Main Street’s a "one-way” thoro- j
The Judge, a man of mien austere,;
Pronounces sentences severe;
But in the place where he resides
by Her decisions he abides.
.The Lawyer, whom at need we see.
Requires of us a counsel-fee.
But in the mansion where he lives
Gratis advice She daily gives.
The Preacher whom we all revere.
But once a week we have to hear.
His sermon then our conscience
He listens every day to Hera.
/The Doctor who, for all and ache,
Orders the pjll . we tpeeiUj take,
Aft home devours and ijahibes.
Three times a day. what She pre
scribes.
The Banker, whom we're prone to
V,,M*- V, H.w MK-V,
When we to ask a loan draw near—
In his abode with aspect bland.
Pays without question on demand.
j^Fpon thp Square tte Trpftyc-cop
Directs us when to go and stop;
But where he dwells—like all the
He "stops” and "goes” at Her be
fn our town—aseverywhere—
Main Street’s a “one-way" thoro
fare. —“Life.”
«S!R!RS*!R»»*»SiaS!li«
Xi MISS GLADYS OOIUB *
» PsbHe Stemograpbsr, *
Hi M. t M. Bank K
WSKKSSKSIRIIKS
SHOULD THERE BE A
H. W. ALASKA FUR, FISH,
GAME PROTECTIVE ASSH.
I
I Before leaving on my recent trip
I into the outlying sections, while on
I it and since coming back. I have
discussed plans for a great associa
tion of men all thru this port of the
North organized together for the
purpose of securing legislative at
tention. and for the conservation of
wild life.
I have found the response so en
thusiastically in favor of such an
Idea that plans have now been for
mulated whereby we can all get to
gether, organize and proceed to
carry on.
The field of effort for such an as
sociation is so vast and offers such
mighty opportunities to do good^
that' I could not hope to cover It]
within the*confines of a newspaper
column, or a whole newspaper itself
—or several of them. But a few
of the big issue confronting us at
the very moment of our conception
Do you know that Pilgrim River
and Salmon Lake are in a fair way
to becoming absolutely depopulated
of fish from the use of fish traps and
the wholesale seining carried on?
Do yon .know .that the “Tundra
Hawk” or Jddger Is actually pro
Howw do you like the present Fur
Tax Law?
What do you think of a bounty on
the Snowy Owl? «
Do you want an Earlier Opening
Season on migratory wildfowl?
Do you know that thousands of
Geese and Duck eggs ate eaten each
year by the Natives? Do you like
Is not the big Arctic Hare entitled'
to some protection during the breed
ing season?
■ and many others prob
ably well known *tp you all.
Anyway, we plan to have out
standing corresponding members in
every part of Seward Peninsula and
northward into the Arctic. * These
members will keep us informed of
conditions in their section and when
matters arise necessitating atten
tion we will see that this attention
is had thru the organisation.
In Congressional matters, bills
pending, under, discussion, etc., tho
association should be the voice, and,
organ of the people. Besides mak
ing good laws you can prevent poor
ones being thrust upon you.
Meeting reports sna progress win
be printed in the Nugget end *ery j
likplj a buUptla.wW{bp iwed per-(
lpdically. un$ mailed to members, j
1^ addition to the regular meetings
there will be specials when urgent'
matters come to. attention.
Jn concluding let mg pay that thp
foregoing matter is called to,your
attention mereiy as ^n incentive to
suggestion on your part—a wedge
to open up a line of thought with
you which may prove a bjg help in
the solution of a serious and grow
ing problem; that of perpetuating
the wild life of Alaska, the last
great stronghold of America’s
If you believe in this effort of
ours, .then come arpund and Join in
the good work. If you don’t, then
come around and convince the rest
of us that we are wasting our time
on a useless, valueless matter. (I
warn you that this will be a rocky,
| uphill Job.)
i The problem^ la yours; come
! around and heftr some vital things
concerning it.
Sincerely, FRANK DUFRESNE
IMPORTANT KEQULA110X8 TO
OBSERVE IN ALASKA FUR ■
LAWS FOR 19912.
Open Seasons: In the Second,
and Third Districts are as follows:
Beaver, marten, land otter, mink,
weasel, Nov. 16 to March 31, in
clusive.
Muskrat, Dec. 1st to May 31st.
Lynx, fox, from December 1st to
to March 15th inclusive.
Sea Otter, no open season.
Bear, wolf, wolverine, squirrel,
marmot,, rabbit, hpre—unprotected.
PROHIBITED METHODS: Un
lawful tp ’take or kill land fur bear
ing animals with poison or trap or
devise known as the “klips,” steel
bear trap or any other trap having
a jaw spread exceeding eight inche?
or with the aid of artificial light or
dog. Unlawful to destroy beaver
houses or runaways.
LICENSES: Stationery fur buy
ers $25; travelling fur buyer $150
issued by commissioner. Fur buyer
must also pay license tax on each
LICENSE TAX OX PELTS: Sea
Otter $100; Moose trophy $10;
caribou, sheep and goat trophies
$5; Silver and black fox $3.50;
polar bear and deer trophy $2.50;
fisher $2; blue fox $1.50; brown
and grizzly bear, cross and white
fox $1; black bear, beaver, marten,
land otter, red fox, lynx. 50 cents;
mink, wild cat 25 cents; muskrat,
weasel 6 cents; pelt not specifically
mentioned 10 cents. • No license
required for trapping, bat trappers
mast keep record of all pelts taken
and make annual report, on or be
fore August 1st, showing to whom
and when sold or <g*posed of, and
must pay tax on all pelts not sol*
to licensed fur buyer In territory.
BOUNTIES: Wolf $15; eagle
Reprinted from Farmers’ Bulle
tin No. 1293, Department of- Agri
EVERY SPORTSMAN
hunter;
FISHERMAN,
TRAPPER,
TRADER
MINK MD VKMITV
Will find it vitally to his
interest. to attend the
meeting to be held next
TUESDAY EVERIBB
DECEMBER 6,
7:30
Downstairs at the residence of
C. P. Rice, opposite Elite Hotel
See signed article on this
same page
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