NAUTICAL REMARKS. 401 



N. E. five-eighths per hour ; but between this island and 

 Beering's Strait it ran to the north-westward at about three 

 quarters of a mile an hour. To the northward of the Strait 

 it takes a more northerly direction, and near the land runs 

 first to the N.E. and then N.W. 



KOTZEBUE SOUND TO CALIFORNIA. 



October \Uh to ^th November, 1826, and October Qth 

 to 29th, 1827. 



These passages were made late in the year, when north- 

 westerly winds prevail, and consequently at a favourable time 

 for getting to the southward. In both years they occupied 

 exactly twenty-three days ; and it is furdier remarkable, that 

 in each, the Aleutian Islands were passed on the ninth day after 

 our departure. The route pursued by the Blossom was to 

 the westward of King's Island, and between St. Lawrence 

 Island and the main-land of America, and thence within sight 

 of St. Paul's and St. George's Islands to the Strait of Oonemak. 



To the eastward of King's Island the soundings are very 

 irregular, varying from nine to six fathoms ; and as at the 

 season above mentioned the weather appears to be generally 

 bad, it is advisable to go to the westward of the island, where 

 the water is deep. Between St. Lawrence Island and the 

 continent of America there is a bank with eleven fathoms 

 water upon it. If, on approaching it in foggy weather, it be 

 doubtful, from the shoaling of the water, whether it be not 

 the island that is the occasion of the decrease of soundings, 

 haul over to the American shore, and the water will deepen. 

 To the southward of St. Lawrence it is necessary only to 

 mention the islands of St. Paul and St. George, which appa- 

 rently may be safely approached within four or five miles ; 

 but I could not get near them in either year to ascertain what 

 dangers lie close off the shore. In the geographical table I 

 have given the positions of these islands, which were before 

 considered so uncertain that they were not placed on our 

 charts. 



