PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 461 



tion, and furnish me with their opinion on the pro- c ^ : p 

 priety of remaining longer in these seas. v — y-» 



Their answer, which I received the next day, con- i 8 c 2 6. 

 veyed an unanimous opinion that the ship could not 

 continue longer at her present anchorage without 

 incurring the risk of wintering, and suggested her 

 removal to the entrance of the sound, where the ma- 

 jority of the officers thought she might remain a few 

 days longer ; but previous to our taking up our sta- 

 tion there, it was considered advisable that the strait 

 should be ascertained to be navigable, lest the ice 

 should have been drifted down from the northward, 

 and the retreat of the ship be cut off. I fully con- 

 curred in opinion with them, that if the frost con- 

 tinued the ship could not remain at her anchorage ; 

 but as there was a possibility of its yielding, I re- 

 solved to wait a day or two longer upon the chance, 

 determined, if it did not give way, to quit the 

 sound ; and in the event of Beering's Strait being 

 found clear, to return, as had been proposed, and to 

 wait a few days off Cape Krusenstern, in the hope of 

 meeting the party. Considering, however, the late- 

 ness of the season and the long nights, there did not 

 appear to be much chance of the ship being able to 

 maintain an advantageous position at the mouth of 

 the sound ; still, as I was unwilling to relinquish 

 the smallest chance of falling in with the party, I 

 purposed making the attempt. In so doing, how- 

 ever, it was necessary to insure our departure by the 

 23d instant, which, considering our distance from 

 any new supplies, and that at that period there 

 would be but nine weeks' provision remaining at 

 half allowance, was as late as I thought it prudent 

 to continue. 



