THE BO GO SWF S 485 



The New Bogoslof Island 



Commander Islands under more favorable conditions. Dr. Stejneger 

 of the commission obtained some excellent photographs. The senior 

 writer, still later in the same season, passed both islands while on the 

 British gunboat, Satellite, on the way from the Russian Islands to 

 Unalaska. 



At that time Old Bogoslof, known to the sealers as Castle Island, 

 from its appearance, was cold and dead. It showed in the fog a sheer 

 cliff or hill of ashes about 300 or 400 feet in height, seeming much 

 higher in the uncertain light. It was apparently the home of countless 

 sea birds and a small herd of the gray sea lions (Eumetopias stelleri) 

 was hauled out upon one of its slopes. 



About half a mile to the northwest lay the islet of New Bogoslof, 

 of about twice the height of the other and considerably greater area. 

 This island* was locally known as Fire Island, having but recently 

 ceased to steam and smoke. There was in 1896 no evidence of activity 

 in it, but the water was said to be still warm in the crevices of the 

 rocks. The name Grewingk, in honor of the Russian geographer who 

 compiled an early account of Old Bogoslof, has been given to this 

 island by Mr. Dall. 



Both islands were surrounded with deep water. In fact the space 

 occupied by the second island had formerly been safely traversed by 

 vessels. Dredge hauls by the Albatross about the islands resulted in 

 the taking of a number of deep sea forms of fishes, among them three 

 e grenadiers' (Albatrossia pectoralis, Bogoslovias clarlci, and Macrourus 

 cinereus). These were obtained at a depth of 664 fathoms or 3,984 

 feet. 



