192CRAIG
The northern approach to Craig is through the San Christova1. Channel into
San Alberto Bay, then southeast across the bay to the well buoyed channel
between Klawock Reef and Fish Egg Island. This channel 1eads into K1awock
Inlet. On turning sauth the town of Craig is visib1e on Craig Island which is
off the southeastern end of Fish Egg Is1and. The best guide is US Chart 17405.
Craig is a small town, mostly on the island, but connected by a causeway to
a peninsula of Prince of Wales Island. Many residents 1ive in boat-houses.
There are several wharves and structures connected with the canneries and fuel
depots. The most prominent landmarks are a brown water tank on the southeast
side of the island and a microwave tower nearby.
The public flaats where transient boats can moor are in North and South
(Shelter) Cove. These coves are on either si de of the causeway. Other docks
and floats for fishing vessels and other craft are a10ng the north waterfront.
The channel leading to Narth Cave is evident on the chart. A 300-foot main
float has two fingers at right angles. The outermost finger, 175 feet long,
has transient moorage along its north (outer) side. However, if this is filled
the harbormaster may allow the use of any temporarily unoccupied space. Report
at the dock or calI him on VHF Channel 16. The main f10at is connected to the
Craig Island shore by means of a short pier. A pathway past some old buildings
takes one to the main street of Craig. Water and power are available at the
floats. Fuel can be obtained at a fuel dock near the canneries.
Shelter Cove (the docks in South Cove) can be reached by going west around
Craig Island. then passing through the buoyed channel between Craig and Fish
Egg Reef. There are more spaces for small vessels on these newer floats. A
controlling depth of 8 feet is in the channe1 and float area. The harbormaster
controls alI berths here as we11.
The road across the causeway continues up the coast of Prince of Wales
Island to Klawock, a Tlingit village towards the head of Klawock In1et.
Klawock can a1so be reached from Craig by boat by proceeding up the inlet,
rounding Klawock Island, then through a narrow, marked channel. Public floats
with apen transient moorage are about 1/4 mile south of Klawock dock (the pier
seen first). A small wooded peninsula resembling an island, projects out
between the dock and the f1oats.This village was the site of the first cannery in Alaska over 100 years
ago. The town is being rebuilt, and there is a magnificent collection of
totem, memorial, and mortuary poles standing in the park above the harbor.Craig may also be entered from the south through Bucareli Bay and Ulloa
Channel. Spanish exploration in 1775 was responsible for the many Spanish
names. The mountains on the large islands are steep, though not high, and make
this a picturesque area. Logging and fishing are the main commerciaI activi-
ties in this regione Few pleasure craft from other parts of the country have
discovered this area, a fact which adds to its attraction, freedom, and space.