130 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



* 



which were more cautious, ami went oft' at the right time with the ebb, could be caught no other- 

 wise than with harpoons fixed to long ropes. Sometimes the ropes were broke, aud the animal 

 escaped before it could be struck a second time. This animal was seen as well in the winter as iu 

 the summer time. They melted some of the fat, with which, like hogs, they are covered from three 

 to four inches thick, and used it as butter. Of the flesh, several casks full were pickled for ship's 

 provision, which did excellent service on their return." 1 



STELLER'S OBSERVATIONS. In the midst of these privations, Steller did not fail to make and 

 record observations relative to the animals which came about the island. To his most praise- 

 worthy perseverance we owe all that we know of the appearance and habits of the Rhythm. Not 

 a word has been added to his account of the characteristics of the animal, which a few years later 

 became extinct. 



THE RETURN TO KAMTCHATKA; MISFORTUNES OF STELLER. In the summer of 1742 the 

 shipwrecked crew of the "St. Peter" built a boat from the wreck of their vessel, and on the 21st 

 (10th) of August sailed toward Kaintchatka. "The next day at noon they were in sight of the 

 southeast point of Bering's Island, at a distance of four leagues N. by E., to which they gave the 

 name of Cape Manati; from the above-mentioned Sea-cows, which herd more here than in any other 

 parts." 2 Shortly after they arrived safely in Kamtchatka. But while some of the crew soon 

 afterward reached St. Petersburg, and had distinctions conferred upon them by the government, 

 Steller was most shamefully treated because he dared to condemn the abuses of the officials, and 

 finally died, in November, 1746, in an obscure town, with but a single friend to sympathize with 

 him. 3 His observations on the Rhytiua, which I shall quote at length, together with those on 

 other marine animals, were published by the St. Petersburg Academy in 1751. 



His statements, it should be remembered, relate to the occurrence of Rhytina on Bering 

 Island only. The somewhat numerous facts which have accumulated regarding the reality or 

 probability of its occurrence in other regions, I shall cite on another page. 



After giving a table of measurements, and a very detailed description of external and internal 

 parts, which I am not at liberty to quote in this connection, Steller expands upon the natural history 

 of the Sea-cow.' 1 The following translation of the original Latin is the product of the unremunerated 

 labor of my brother, Mr. A. Charles True, of the State Normal College, Westfield, Massachusetts, 

 who has taken pains to make it as accurate as possible. 



STELLER'S OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SEA-COW. "It was my fortune 

 on au unlucky occasion," writes the naturalist, " to observe daily during ten months the habits and 



'ioe. tit., pp. 61,62. 

 *Loc. oil., p. 64. 



3 "As to the academical company of travellers," says Milller, " Gmelin and I arrived at Petersburg on Feb. 15 [26], 1743, 

 having passed through all the ports of Siberia. But Steller, who stayed iu Kamtschatka after Waxel, to make researches 

 in natural history, did not enjoy this good luck. He inimerged himself -without necessity, though with good inten- 

 tion, iu matters that did not belong to his department ; for which he was called to an account by the provincial chancery 

 nlJakutzk. Steller vindicated himself so perfectly that the Vice Governor there gave him permission to proceed on his 

 journey. The proceedings were not sent to the Senate at Petersburg so soon as transacted. The Senate, who had 

 intelligence of his passing through Tobolsk, sent an express to meet him, and to carry him back to Jakutzk. Aud soon 

 after advice being received from Irkntzk, of his acquittal, another express was dispatched to annul the first order. In 

 the mean time, the first express met Steller at Solikamsk, and had carried him back as far as Tara, before the second 

 express overtook him. He then proceeded without delay on his return for Petersbury by the way of Tobolsk, but got 

 no farther than Tumen, where he died of a fever in November, 1746, in company of one Hau, a surgeon, who had been 

 with him in the Eamtscltatka expedition. I have thought it necessary to relate these circumstances, because many 

 falsities have been propagated abroad concerning him, nay, even his death has been doubted. He was born on the 

 10th of March (21st), 1709, at Winshnm in Franconia." MttLLER: op. tit., pp, 65, 66. Scheerer (fide Nordenskiold), in his 

 biography, attached to Stcller's account of Kamtchatka, states that Steller got as far as Moscow when ordered to 

 return, and was frozen by the way. 



4 STELLER, GEOROK WILLIAM: L>e bestiis marinis anctore Georgio Wilhelmo Stellero. <Nov. Comm. Acad. 

 Imp. Petropolitaua;, torn, ii, 1751, pp. 289, 294, et seq. 



