Extract from 1938 Season's Report of H. Arnold Karo,
Hydrographic and Geodetic Engineer
Commanding Officer, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
Motor Vessel WESTDAHL
(From the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
FIELD ENGINEERS BULLETIN
no. 12, December 1938)
The survey of the lower part of Glacier Bay was not without
its compensations, however. The local name for Point Gustavus
is Strawberry Point and investigation readily shows why it is
so called. Thousands and thousands of strawberry plants (and
almost an equal number of bear tracks), covered the point, although
few berries were obtained this season due to the continued cold
and rainy weather. It is reported that in summers when good
weather prevails, the strawberry crop is most prodigious. Wild
strawberries are found along the shores of Glacier Bay as far
as the party worked this year although the crop was very poor
due to unfavorable weather. However, a few tasty feasts of berries
were gathered and proved a welcome change of diet. From all
reports, the topographic party usually managed to take their
noonday lunch in the center of a favorable strawberry patch.
While it was not admitted by them, it is believed by the remainder
of the party that their taste for strawberries was the cause
of their skirmish with a black bear, which fortunately, ended
in a draw.
(The
article is accompanied by a cartoon by C. E. Pedersen
showing a bear taking an interest in plane table operations
in Glacier Bay. The characters speak as follows. Rodman:
"Yo-oo-you'll h-h-have- e-e to h-h-urry--- Gulp!!"
Bear: "?" Man holding instrument shade:
"Huh! Looks like a bear don't it?" Topographer:
"Yeh- HEY! Hold that rod steady!")
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On this particular day the party was working in the bight south
of Berg Bay - a particularly choice location for the elusive
berry. Seeing the rodman waving frantically and hearing him
shouting to hurry up with the rod readings, the rest of the
party were at a loss to understand this sudden burst of activity
on his part. After each rod reading he would literally run up
the beach to the next point, and would again wave frantically
and beseech the topographer to hurry and read the rod. He was
rodding toward the plane table setup and as he rounded the point
and approached closer, the reason for all this agitation was
soon apparent; for rounding the point about a hundred yards
astern of him, was a black bear of no mean proportions! Each
time the rodman stopped to give a reading, Mr. Bear stopped
still and stood upright, almost in imitation. When the rodman
started up the beach, after him came Mr. Bear on all fours.
This strange game of tag or "hare and hounds" was
most amusing to the party gathered around the plane table. Closer
and closer came the rodman and after him the bear. It soon became
apparent that Mr. Bear was bent on a thorough job of investigating
these strange creatures who had apparently interrupted his feast
of strawberries. Having no firearms, the party armed themselves
with the axe and stood their ground, although ready to take
to the boat if necessary. The rodman reached the party and on
came Mr. Bear. Brandishing the axe and clubs and letting forth
blood curdling yells, the whole party gave a good imitation
of a headhunter's dance. In spite of this unholy din, it looked
as if a Kit Carson act was called for or else that discretion
should be the better part of valor and the entire party would
have to retreat to the boat. Just as the party was about to
abandon its position, the bear turned around and lumbered off,
having approached to within thirty yards of the party.
Many bears were seen by the parties at various times and some
of the hydrographic signals were destroyed by them. Tripod signals
having red cloth on them seemed to be the big attraction as
several of these were destroyed. Bears were seen along the beach
on several occasions, presumably eating strawberries, and one
spent the entire day wandering up and down, retiring to the
bush only when attempts were made to photograph him and appearing
again as soon as the photographers returned to the ship.
Bear tracks and wolf tracks are in evidence wherever one lands
on the beach and the howling of wolves on the mainland and on
some of the Beardslee Islands was not uncommon. Woodchucks or
groundhogs of extremely large size were found in many sections.
Hair seals are found in large numbers and it is reported that
the natives still make sealing expeditions up Muir Inlet and
into Beartrack Cove for their supply of sealskins et cetera.
The Beardslee Islands are the nesting place for eider ducks,
and many geese, ducks and other water fowl are to be found in
the lower parts of Glacier Bay. These geese are said to be native
of this area and closely resemble the Canadian Honker.
I know of no other place where the sight of one or more whales
is a daily occurrence. During the entire time spent in Glacier
Bay this season, if visibility permitted, we saw at least one
whale each day and at times as many as four or five, often approaching
within a few yards of them in the course of our work. At times
they seemed most playful and on more than one occasion various
members of the party saw them leap clear of the water and come
down with a resounding crash, throwing spray a hundred feet
or more in the air, apparently from mere exuberance of spirits,
for no trace of killer whales was seen at the time. At times
they would be close inshore on the reefs, apparently "scraping
the barnacles off their bottoms."
Crabs abound in the waters of the bay and more than one feast
of this delicious seafood was enjoyed by the entire party. A
small amount of commercial crab fishing is carried on, as well
as halibut fishing. While anchored at night in Berg Bay, thousands
of shrimp, attracted by the lights, were seen swimming around
the ship.
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