MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 91 



necks of land thus formed have a height of only six or eight feet above 

 the tide level. 



The cones of the peninsula differ from those of the main island in 

 being elongated instead of circular, and in having their surfaces covered 

 with a layer of pitchstones, several inches in thickness, above the 

 clinkstones. 



On the cone in the centre of the peninsula there is a bed of vol- 

 canic ashes and cinders, which shows by its loose mixed condition that 

 it fell there after the elevation and cooling of the rock above water. 

 Opposite the junction of the peninsula with the main island is a cliff, 

 facing the southeast, sixty feet high. Its composition of alternate 

 layers of cinders and ashes indicates that it was deposited under water, 

 and subsequently elevated to its present positiop. This cliff has been 

 worn into by the waves, and portions of it continually falling down 

 furnish material for the increase of the sand belt, along the southeast 

 shore of the island. A seam or stratum two feet in thickness, com- 

 posed mainly of volcanic ashes, and containing lumps of calcined sea 

 mud and petrified shells, extends the whole length of the cliff, parallel 

 with its surface curves, and situated at about midway its height. These 

 shells differ from any now found on the island. 



The distance from the point where the peninsula joins the island to 

 the west end of the island is about eight miles, and the general trend 

 of the shore is northwest. The peninsula itself extends two miles and 

 a half in a southwesterly direction, with a reef continuing to the west- 

 ward a mile farther. Within the angle formed by these two shores is 

 an open harbor, with anchorage of from nine to thirteen fathoms of 

 water, half a mile to three miles off shore. 



A vessel lying here is sheltered from winds blowing from any 

 xiortherly point between northwest and east ; with the wind more to 

 the southward, a heavy swell rolls over the reef, making it very rough. 

 At the head of the cove is located the trading-post of the former Rus- 

 sian company and the native village. This portion of the island is 

 undergoing great changes, from the filling in of sand from deep water. 

 At no very remote period there existed a spacious harbor within the 

 -ove now filled with sand ; and there are people living on the island 

 who remember when the peninsula itself was an island. In this cove last 

 year a vessel drawing six feet of water lay and swung at her anchor 

 where it is now dry at low tide. The sand is brought up by the action of 



