PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 251 



coast. The bottom near the shore was a coarse gravel, 

 which, as that in the offing is mud or sand, is a useful 

 distinctive feature. With a northerly wind and a thick 

 fog we stood towards St. Lav/rence Island, and on the 

 1st August were apprised of our approach to it, by 

 the soundings changing from mud to sand, and several 

 visits from the little crested auks, which are peculiar 

 to this Island. We made the land about the same 

 place we had done the preceding year, stood along it 

 to the northward, and passed its N. W. extreme, at 

 two miles and a half distance, in fifteen fathoms water, 

 over a bottom of stones and shells, which soon changed 

 again to sand and mud. About midnight the tem- 

 perature of water fell to SI*', and soon after that of the 

 air was reduced from 42° to 34\ The wind shifted to 

 north-west, and cleared away the fog. On the after- 

 noon of the 2d we passed King's Island, and the wind 

 continuing to the northward, anchored off Point Rod- 

 ney, for the purpose of hoisting out the barge. We 

 came to anchor In seven fathoms, three miles from the 

 land. King's Island bearing N. 70" 2i/ W. true, and 

 Sledge Island S. 65'' E, true. 



Point Rodney is low, and the water being shallow, 

 it is difficult to land. From the beach to the foot of 

 the mountains there is a plain about two miles wide, 

 covered with lichens and grass, upon which several 

 herds of reindeer were feeding ; but the communica- 

 tion is in places interrupted by narrow lakes, which 

 extend several miles along the coast. Upon the beach 

 there was a greater abundance of driftwood than we 

 had noticed on any other part of the coast ; some of 

 it was perforated by the terredo, and was covered with 

 small barnacles ; but there were several trunks which 

 appeared to have been recently torn up by the roots. 



