connection with existing triangulation in Icy Strait. This work will permit a final adjustment of all the triangulation in that region, which will enable this and other bureaus to orient and connect more accurately their charts, surveys, and maps.

TIDE AND CURRENT WORK

A primary tide station for the general control of hydrographic work in southeastern Alaska was maintained the entire fiscal year at Ketchikan. At this station a record was also made for the full year of the density and temperature of the surface sea water. For the control of hydrographic work in the vicinity of Prince William Sound and for the definition of a mean sea-level datum for precise level lines in that part of Alaska, a tide gauge was maintained at Valdez for the entire year. For the same purpose an automatic tide gauge was established at Seward on May 17, 1925. In order to obtain a mean sea-level datum plane of the desired accuracy in connection with the precise leveling in that region, it is intended to maintain the gauge at Valdez for a three-year period ending September, 1926, and the one at Seward indefinitely.

In connection with hydrographic surveys in Alaskan waters, tidal observations covering one or more months were made at 12 stations and short series of tidal observations of less than a month were made at 9 other points.

The Coast and Geodetic Survey is now publishing annually in advance in its Pacific Coast Tide Tables the predicted times and heights of the tide for every day in the year at the following seven Alaskan ports: Sitka, Juneau, Seldovia, Anchorage, Kodiak, Apokak, and St. Michael.

The tide tables further give the tidal difference for about 300 other points in Alaska, so that the navigator is enabled to determine the times of high and low water at practically any desired point.

In general, the tidal work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey is progressing satisfactorily in connection with the regular work of the bureau and can be expanded to meet the needs of commerce and industry at a nominally increased cost.

With regard to the currents, however, the situation is not yet satisfactory. It should be noted that while a knowledge of the behavior of the currents is in all waters a matter of prime importance in the safeguarding of navigation, in Alaskan waters it is doubly so, for in many cases deep water extends to within a few feet of the shore and soundings are therefore of comparatively little value to the navigator in apprising him of danger. In thick weather, therefore, when the navigator is unable to determine his position by landmarks, it is a matter of utmost importance that he know the velocity and direction of the currents to which his vessel may be subject, and which may, unknown to him, be carrying his vessel to destruction.

A current survey entails considerable expense, carried on by itself. The Coast and Geodetic Survey is therefore carrying on a current and tide survey of the important straits and passages in southeastern Alaska in which the velocity of the current at strength, the time of slack water, and the time of the tide are of considerable importance to the mariner.

The Pacific Coast Current Tables for the calendar year 1926 were issued during the year 1925. These tables contain the predictions for each day in the year for two Alaskan stations, Wrangell Narrows and Sergius Narrows. In addition the tables give the time difference for the current stage for 250 other points in Alaska, so that the mariner is enabled to obtain in advance the times of the current at many points south of Cape Spencer on the coast and south of the head of Lynn Canal on the inside passage. As a result of the current and tide survey being made this summer in the inside passage, it is planned to increase these principal stations for which daily predictions are made.

A plan has been worked out whereby the times of strength and the velocities at strength may be predicted on the tide-predicting machine, making an additional feature in the presentation of the current data for the mariner. These additional data appear for the first time in the Pacific Coast Current Tables for the year 1926, recently received from the printer. They include predictions for Seymour Narrows, British Columbia.

Tidal bench marks were established at 22 Alaskan stations during the fiscal year 1925.

MAGNETIC WORK

The magnetic observatory at Sitka has been in constant operation and has secured continuous values of declination and intensity. In view of evident connection between auroras, magnetic disturbances and interference with cable transmission, observations were continuously made of the auroras.

The Explorer examined an area of marked local disturbance in the vicinity of East Island, Revillagigedo Passage, reported by the superintendent of lighthouses. Observations were made elsewhere in Southeastern Alaska by the Explorer and Surveyor and in western Alaska by the Pioneer and the Discoverer.

The reconnaissance survey party working in the Aleutian Islands s including in its program some much needed magnetic observations. These not only help to safeguard navigation but are of considerable scientific value.

It is hoped that a start can be made next year on the occupation of stations in the interior, in at least sufficient numbers to determine the changes in the magnetic elements, even if the extension to unsurveyed regions can not yet be started.

Investigation of iron-ore deposits in Alaska by magnetic methods ders promise. Some of the most marked areas of magnetic disurbance occur at these points and their possible relation to ore deposits of commercial value is clearly worthy of study.

SEISMOLOGICAL WORK

During the year seismological investigation was added to the duties the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Study of the earthquake of February 23, 1925, in the region north of Valdez, was aided by good local cooperation in furnishing reports of visible and felt effects. The great advance of the Territory is well brought out by the fact that the effects of the Yakutat earthquake of 1899 were not known for a number of years, while those of the minor earthquake mentioned were known almost immediately.

While the studies of the bureau can not, of course, affect the occurrence of earthquakes, they result in the furnishing of valuable information, much of which is of practical application.

RIVERS AND HARBORS

The establishment of the Juneau engineer district, on April 1, 1921, by the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, has marked a great advance in the manner of handling river and harbor improvements.

The president of the Alaska Road Commission was appointed district engineer and the other two members of the commission were designated as his military assistants. The president of the Alaska Road Commission was also detailed to superintend the construction or repairs of any aid to navigation authorized by Congress in the sixteenth lighthouse district and to act in a consulting capacity therewith, and was directed to report by letter to the Secretary of Com

merce.

The three works of improvement now authorized are Nome Harbor, Wrangell Harbor, and Wrangell Narrows. The improvement of Nome Harbor, which was completed in 1923, involved the dredging of the mouth of Snake River and the construction of two jetties at a cost of $272,950.13. Annual redredging and seasonal maintenance have been accomplished as required.

The improvement authorized for Wrangell Harbor involves the construction of a breakwater about 300 feet long extending from Point Shekesti in a northeasterly direction and forming a safe anchorage for small boats. Construction began in April, 1924, and the rubblemound breakwater was completed in November, 1924, at a cost of $34,035.34. A concrete curb wall is now under construction. will complete the project. The river and harbor act of March 3, 1925, authorized the dredging of Wrangell Narrows so as to provide a channel 200 feet wide and 21 feet deep in mean lower low water. Active work will begin next spring.

This

Items were included in the river and harbor act for 1922 for the preliminary examination of the Tolovana River, Kuskokwim Portage, Gastineau Channel, and English Bay. A favorable report on the Tolovana River and an unfavorable report on English Bay have been submitted to Congress. The other surveys have been made and reports are being prepared.

Items were included in the river and harbor act of March 3, 1925, for the preliminary examination of the following localities: Hyder, Ketchikan Creek, Saxman, Wrangell, Port Alexander, Seward, Fort Yukon, and Holy Cross.

This engineer district carries out the important duties of the Federal Government in connection with permits for the construction of bridges, wharves, and other structures over navigable waters, including fish traps, both fixed and floating. The local supervision of such. permits has been of great value in facilitating efficient supervision over such structures.

A thorough investigation is now being made of all fish traps within the Territory to insure compliance with the Federal regulations guarding the interests of navigation, including location, display of lights, etc., which is of great importance to both the large shipping interests and the operators of many small gas boats and fishing schooners within the Territory.

AIDS TO NAVIGATION

Aids to navigation are established and maintained by the Lighthouse Service of the Department of Commerce, the work in Alaska being conducted from the district headquarters at Ketchikan under the direction of the superintendent. A supply and buoy depot is also maintained at Ketchikan. Two lighthouse tenders, both oilburning steam vessels built especially for the work in Alaska, are operated throughout the year in connection with the work of establishing and maintaining aids. These are the Cedar, a large steel vessel, and the Fern, a smaller wooden vessel.

During the year 60 new aids to navigation were established in Alaska. These were located on various parts of the coast where most needed and include 16 lights, 3 gas buoys, 1 automatic fog bell, 28 unlighted buoys, and 12 day marks. Several additional aids will be established before the close of the present summer, including three unwatched acetylene lights, two post-lantern oil lights, two unlighted buoys, and two unlighted beacons.

A light and fog signal station, including provision for resident keepers, has been under construction at Cape Spencer during the year to replace the small unwatched acetylene light heretofore maintained, funds for the purpose being supplied from special appropriations made by Congress for aids to navigation. It is expected that sufficient progress will be made during the current working season so that the station can be placed in commission before the coming winter. This station will be an important aid to navigation and when completed it will show a flashing white light of about 110,000 candlepower produced by an incandescent oil vapor lamp mounted in a modern revolving lens. A radio fog signal as well as a compressed-air diaphone will be provided.

It is the policy of the Lighthouse Service to extend and improve system of aids in Alaska as rapidly as funds for the purpose become available from special appropriations made by Congress. The following table, which gives the total number of aids of the different classes in service on June 30, 1910, and certain subsequent Pars, illustrates the progress being made in establishing aids in the Territory:

The transportation of mails in Alaska is under the supervision of The superintendent Railway Mail Service, Seattle, Wash., with assistAt chief clerks stationed at Seward and Nenana. The office superntendent Railway Mail Service, Seattle, exercises supervision over the entire service and has immediate charge of the service in southPastern Alaska and all direct service from Seattle. The chief clerk, Railway Mail Service, at Seward, has immediate supervision over

the service along the south coast west of Sitka; also that furnished by the Copper River & Northwestern Railroad and the Government railroad south of Nenana; the chief clerk, Railway Mail Service, at Nenana, has immediate supervision of the service in the Seward Peninsula and Iditarod sections and that in the Yukon River and Tanana Valley sections.

The increased frequency of the summer service to and from Nome and other offices in the Seward Peninsula district, inaugurated during the summer of 1923, is still in effect. This service affords weekly dispatches of mail from Seattle to Seward, via the principal ports in southeastern and southwestern Alaska; from Seward to Nenana, via the Government Railroad; from Nenana to St. Michael via boats on the Tanana and Yukon Rivers; and from St. Michael to Nome via Unalakleet and Golovin. Service from Nome to Seattle over the same route is also maintained with the same frequency. Mails dispatched via this route leave Seattle each Saturday and arrive at Nome in about 22 days and a similar schedule is available for the dispatch of mails in the opposite direction. This service, of course, is supplemental to service afforded by through boats operated between Seattle and Nome and St. Michael during the season of open navigation in Bering Sea.

The twice-a-month summer boat service from Nome by Teller, Wales, Deering, and Candle to Kotzebue and return, inaugurated during the summer of 1923, is also in effect for the summer of 1925. The mail service in Alaska for the winter of 1925-26 will be practically the same as was in effect during the winter of 1924-25.

TERRITORIAL SCHOOLS

The Territorial schools, including public elementary and high schools and all public educational institutions, are under the general supervision of a Territorial board of education with the commissioner of education, Juneau, as chief executive officer.

Schools are of two classes, namely, schools in incorporated towns and schools outside incorporated towns. As indicated by the statistical tables following, the majority of the school children of the Territory are enrolled in the former. The smaller schools in districts outside incorporated towns are usually in small mining and fishing villages. Financial aid is extended to communities which have fewer children of school age than is required by law for the establishment of a regular school district. Schools so maintained are known as cooperative schools.

The Territorial schools are supported largely by appropriations from the Territorial treasury, augmented by 25 per cent of the Alaska fund, which consists of a variety of Federal taxes collected in Alaska and which annually nets the schools approximately $50,000. Twenty-five per cent of the cost of maintenance of schools in incorporated towns is borne by the local school district and 75 per cent by the Territory, up to a maximum of $20,000 annually to any one school district. Schools outside incorporated towns are supported entirely by appropriations which are disbursed through the governor's office.