This brief review of explorations carried on in the St. Elias region previous to the expedition sent out in 1890 by the National Geographic Society is incomplete in many particulars,[24] but will indicate the most promising sources of information concerning the country described in the following pages. [Footnote 24: Yakutat bay has been visited by vessels of the United States Navy and United States Revenue Marine and by numerous trading vessels; but reports of observations made during these voyages have not been found during a somewhat exhaustive search of literature relating to Alaska.] {75} PART II. NARRATIVE OF THE ST. ELIAS EXPEDITION OF 1890. ORGANIZATION. [Illustration: PLATE 8. SKETCH MAP OF MOUNT ST. ELIAS REGION, ALASKA, By Mark B. Kerr.] A long-cherished desire to study the geography, geology, and glaciers of the region around Mount St. Elias was finally gratified when, in the summer of 1890, the National Geographic Society made it possible for me to undertake an expedition to that part of Alaska. The expedition was organized under the joint auspices of the National Geographic Society and the United States Geological Survey, but was greatly assisted by individuals who felt an interest in the extension of geographic knowledge. For the inception of exploration and for securing the necessary funds, credit is due Mr. Willard D. Johnson. The names of those who subscribed to the exploration fund of the Society are as follows: Boynton Leach. Henry Gannett. Everett Hayden. Charles J. Bell. Richardson Clover. J. S. Diller. C. M. McCarteney. J. W. Powell. C. A. Williams. J. G. Judd. Willard D. Johnson. A. Graham Bell. Israel C. Russell. Gardiner G. Hubbard. Gilbert Thompson. A. W. Greely. Harry King. J. W. Dobbins. Morris Bien. J. W. Hays. Wm. B. Powell. Edmund Alton. Z. T. Carpenter. Bailey Willis. Charles Nordhoff. E. S. Hosmer. Rogers Birnie, Jr. I was chosen by the Board of Managers of the National Geographic Society and by the Director of the United States Geological Survey to take charge of the expedition and to carry on geological and glacial studies. Mr. Mark B. Kerr, topographer on the Geological Survey, was assigned as an assistant, with the duty of making a topographical map of the region explored. {76} Mr. E. S. Hosmer, of Washington, D. C., volunteered his services as general assistant.[25] [Footnote 25: Copies of all instructions governing the work of the expedition are given in Appendix A.] Mr. Kerr left Washington on May 24 for San Francisco, where he made arrangements for his special work, and reported to me at Seattle on June 15. I left Washington on May 25 and went directly to Seattle, where the necessary preparations for exploring an unknown and isolated region were made.