the coast to the western entrance of Two Arm Bay. The inshore work included surveys of the approaches to Resurrection Bay, of Day Harbor, and of Harris and Two Arm Bays. The offshore work covered approximately 3,000 square miles of area extending offshore to Portlock Bank.

The Coast and Geodetic Survey ship Explorer carried on operations along the west coast of Kruzof Island between Sitka and Salisbury Sound.

A survey was made, by the launch Wildcat, of the northeast entrance to Sitkalidak Strait and Port Hobron, Kodiak Island. The survey of Sitkalidak Strait was carried southward through the narrows to deep water in the southern entrance to the strait. A channel with a least depth of 1412 feet was developed through the narrows. For vessels bound along the southeast coast of Kodiak Island this affords a short cut and makes unnecessary the rough trip around Sitkalidak Island.

It is estimated that as a result of this survey the vessels of the Alaska Steamship Co. making the run between Port Hobron and Alitak Bay will reduce their steaming distance approximately 40 miles.

At the close of the fiscal year the Surveyor was operating on the west coast of Kodiak Island, the work including detailed surveys of Alitak and Zacher Bays, while the Explorer was engaged on surveys in Keku and Sumner Straits and in Wrangell Narrows.

Two parties were engaged in connecting the strong scheme of triangulation in southeast Alaska with the Alaska-Canada boundary triangulations, while the work of placing the geographic positions of the triangulation stations on the North American Datum proceeded steadily. This work is of utmost importance for surveying and mapping purposes.

Magnetic observations were made on the Yukon River and its tributaries, extending the area surveyed considerably beyond its previous limits. Special study of the aurora was continued during the year at the Sitka magnetic observatory.

The Coast and Geodetic Survey is now publishing in advance annually in its Pacific Coast Tide Tables the predicted times and heights of the tide for each day of the year at the following Alaska ports; Sitka, Juneau, Seldovia, Anchorage, Kodiak, Apokak, St. Michael. The tide tables also give tidal differences and ratios for about 275 other points in Alaska by means of which the navigator is enabled to determine the times and heights of the tide for practically all the tidal waters of Alaska.

The Pacific Coast Current Tables, issued by the survey, contain complete current predictions for each day of the year for Wrangel! Narrows, Sergius Narrows, North Inian Pass, and Isanotski Strait. In addition, the current tables give differences and ratios by means of which the navigator is enabled to obtain the times and velocities of the current for about 250 other places in Alaskan waters.

In addition to its engineering and scientific activities, the Coast and Geodetic Survey ships are often able to render emergency assistance. On May 25, when the steamer Aleutian struck a rock and

sank in Uyak Bay, Kodiak Island, the Coast and Geodetic Survey ship Surveyor responded to a call for assistance, picked up passengers and crew, about 150 in number, and transported them to Seward.

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 four works of improvement now authorized are Nome Harbor, Wrangell Harbor, Wrangell Narrows, and Tolovana River.

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 of Wrangell Harbor, which was completed in 1925, involved 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; the rubble-mound breakwater was completed in November, 1924; and the concrete curb wall was completed in November, 1925; total cost, $37,321.32. No maintenance has been required.

The improvement of Wrangell Narrows was completed in June, 1928. A channel 200 feet wide and 21 feet deep at mean low water, with increased width on curves, and 300 feet wide and 27 feet deep across Petersburg Bar has been provided at a cost of $452,970.93. Maintenance redredging has been performed as required at a cost of $34,796.25 to date.

Practically all traffic destined for Alaskan and Canadian points north of Wrangell, now amounting to about 60,000 passengers and 600,000 tons of freight, will use the completed channel, where heretofore about half the existing traffic was forced to detour around Cape Decision. Final marking of the improved channel has been accomplished by the Lighthouse Service.

Authority for the improvement of the Tolovana River is contained in the river and harbor act of January 21, 1927, but this work has not yet been started.

Items for the improvement of the harbors of Ketchikan, Seward, Port Alexander, and Dry Pass have been recommended to Congress. Survey reports have been submitted for the improvement of Gastineau Channel, Nome Harbor, Sitka Harbor, and Cordova Harbor. The act of Congress approved February 12, 1929, authorized a preliminary examination of Salmon River at Hyder, with a view to the control of floods.

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.

A number of new aids were established during the fiscal year, and improvements were made in some existing aids. The new aids are located at various points along the coast, including Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean. The net increase in number, after deducting several discontinued on account of no longer being needed or on account of substituting other aids, is 43. The new aids include 9 automatic flashing lights, 9 post lights, 4 gas buoys, 1 radiobeacon, 14 unlighted buoys, and 7 day marks. Marking of the new dredged channel in Wrangell Narrows was completed during the year. At Sentinel Island Light station, Favorite Channel, the intensity of the light was greatly increased by changing the illuminant from acetylene to electricity.

A short range radiobeacon was installed at Sentinel Island for benefit of vessels navigating in fog or falling snow, this being the first radiobeacon maintained on inside waters in Alaska. Two additional radiobeacons will be established on the inside passage within the next few months. High-power radiobeacons have been continued in operation at two outside coast stations-Cape Spencer and Cape St. Elias. Another high-power radiobeacon will be placed in service at Scotch Cap, on Unimak Pass, next season.

Funds became available July 1, 1929, for a light and fog signal station to be established at Cape Decision, southern extremity of Kuiu Island, and construction work on this project will be under way during the remainder of the summer. Provision will be made at the station for a radiobeacon, as well as a first-class fog signal and a light of suitable intensity. Quarters for three resident keepers will be included.

The following table shows the progress that is being made in establishing aids to navigation in Alaska in accordance with the policy

of the Bureau of Lighthouses to extend and improve the system of aids in these waters as rapidly as funds become available from appropriations made by Congress:

The transportation of mails in Alaska is under the supervision of the superintendent Railway Mail Service, Seattle, Wash., with a chief clerk Railway Mail Service, stationed at Seward. The office superintendent, Railway Mail Service, exercises supervision over the entire service and has immediate charge of the service in southeastern 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 and that furnished by the Copper River & Northwestern and the Government railroads. The chief clerk, Seward, also has immediate supervision of the service in the Seward Peninsula and Iditarod sections and that in the Yukon River and Tanana Valley sections.

TERRITORIAL SCHOOLS

The public-school system of the Territory of Alaska, as defined in chapter 97, Session Laws of 1929 (school code), includes elementary schools, high schools, normal high schools, citizenship night schools for adults, and such other public educational institutions as may hereafter be established. At present no normal high schools are maintained. These schools are maintained for white children and children of mixed blood leading a civilized life. The enrollment of the latter class varies from a few in cities to the entire enrollment in smaller outlying schools.

The Territorial department of education, consisting of the Terri-` torial board of education, together with the commissioner of education, with office at Juneau, as chief executive, has general supervision over all the schools, which are of three classes, as follows:

Schools in incorporated cities and incorporated school districts in which approximately 70 per cent of the children have enrolled. Schools outside incorporated cities, but in established school districts.

Special or cooperative schools in communities where the number of children does not meet the Territorial requirement for the establishing of a regular school district.

As a rule the small schools in districts outside incorporated cities and special schools are in communities which have fishing or mining as a basic industry.

The support of the Territorial schools is largely by appropriation from the Territorial treasury, augmented by 25 per cent of the "Alaska fund." This fund is made up of a variety of Federal taxes collected in Alaska, and which nets the schools approximately $50,000 annually.

Fifteen per cent of the cost of the maintenance of schools in incorporated cities is borne by the local school district and 85 per cent by the Territory, with a maximum refund of $30,000 annually to any one school district. The schools outside of the incorporated cities are supported entirely by appropriations which are disbursed through the governor's office. Financial aid also for the special schools from the Territory is disbursed in this way.

Where special schools are situated the communities assist in providing school buildings and in the purchase of fuel. The Territory pays the salaries of teachers and cost of equipment and supplies.

In a limited number of cases transportation of pupils who reside beyond walking distance from school is provided by the Territory. During the school year 1928-29 seven transportation routes were maintained. The length of these lines varied from three-quarters of a mile to 7 miles in length one way. Seventy pupils were transported at a total cost of $5,399.50.

Incorporated cities and school districts which provide for the education of pupils residing outside the corporate limits are paid by the Territory an annual tuition fee for each pupil.

The training and experience of the teachers in the Territorial schools compares favorably with those of any State in the Union. With very few exceptions in the case of teachers of vocational subjects, the high-school teachers are college or university graduates. Few inexperienced or untrained teachers, as the following figures will show, are employed, even in the smaller schools. For the year 192829, 98.4 per cent of the high-school teachers were college or university graduates; 91 per cent of the elementary teachers were college, university, or normal-school graduates, or had two years' training beyond graduation from high school; 94 per cent of all teachers employed were college, university, or normal graduates or had two years' training beyond high school; 68 per cent of the high-school teachers and 50 per cent of the elementary teachers have taken postgraduate work of from six weeks to one and a half years.

The goal of the department is a trained, experienced, competent teacher in every classroom in the Territory; each high-school teacher a college or university graduate, and no certificate issued to anyone who has not completed at least a 2-year course in an approved college or normal school, in which has been included a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit in education. This standard is the goal recommended by educators in general as a minimum requirement.

A total of 242 teachers were employed in 88 schools in the Territory for the year 1928-29.

Annual salaries of elementary teachers range from $1,350 in southeastern Alaska to $1,800 in interior Alaska. The average salary is $1,550. High-school teachers receive an average salary of $1,615, ranging from $1,350 to $1,995. The average annual salary of super