402 APPENDIX. 



I should recommend the passage being always made to the 

 eastward of these islands, as between them and Oonemak there 

 is a strong current from Bristol Bay, which in 1827 drifted 

 the Blossom thirty-five miles to the S. W. in the course of the 

 day. The Strait of Oonemak, lying between the islands of 

 Oonemak and Coogalga, appears at present to be tlie safest 

 opening to the Pacific from the Kamschatka Sea. The Aleu- 

 tian Islands in the autumn appear to be enveloped in fog 

 about half-way down, and to have a region of mist lying to 

 windward of the Archipelago, which makes it necessary for a 

 ship to be certain of her position before she attempts any of 

 the channels, as she might be led down so close upon the land 

 in the fog, that s'he would not have room to rectify a mistake, 

 should she unhappily incur any, which is very likely to hap- 

 pen, from the irregularity and velocity of the currents about 

 the islands. Under these circumstances I should recommend 

 making the north-west end of Oonemak, and afterwards keep- 

 ing along the coast of that island to the southward. As this 

 island lies forty miles to the northward of the other islands of 

 the chain, Amnak excepted, which is three degrees to the 

 westward, it cannot be mistaken, unless the reckoning of the 

 ship is very incorrect indeed. And by so doing, in the event 

 of not liking to attempt the passage, a vessel will still be far 

 enough to windward, supposing the breeze to be from the 

 northward, to weather the other islands of the chain ; and if 

 from the westward, she may reach into Bristol Bay. 



We had no opportunity of seeing the summits of either 

 Oonemak or Alaska, which, when clear, are good guides for 

 the strait;* but when the low land of the former can be seen, 

 the south-west point of Oonemak may be known by a pointed 

 rock situated near the base of a remarkable wedge-shaped 

 cliff, conspicuous from the northward and north-westward. 

 The narrowest part of the strait is between this rock and 

 Coogalga Island, and the distance exactly nine miles and a 

 half, in a S. lo 30' E. (true) direction. In a line between 



* See Cook's Third Voyage, vol. II. 



