18 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Leaving San Francisco April 5, the doctor landed on Bering Island 

 on the 8th of May, and after starting work on the island proceeded to 

 Petropaulowski, where he spent several weeks in establishing a second, 

 class station, to work in connection with a first-class station on Bering 

 Island. 



Dr. Stejneger spent the summer on Bering Island ; and on August 

 21 made a boat expedition around the island, especially for the purpose 

 of collecting the bones of the Rhytina. This work occupied twelve 

 days. 



The winter was spent on Bering Island, during which time several 

 expeditions were made in dog sledges into the interior. 



In May Dr. Stejneger proceeded again to Petropaulovski to inspect 

 the station, and made numerous collections^ and observations in the 

 vicinity. In the summer he visited Copper Island, for the purpose of 

 studying the habits of the fur-seals, of which there are large rookeries, 

 worked by the Alaska Commercial Company. 



Returning to Bering Island, Dr. Stejneger finished his work there, 

 and left on the steamer St. Paul for San Francisco, where he arrived 

 October 29, 1883, and shortly after reached Washington. 



The most noteworthy results of Dr. Stejneger's expedition consisted — 

 first, of 4 more or less complete series of vertebrae and long bone and 

 about 18 skulls of the Rhytina; second, 1 skull of a bearded whale, 

 and several skulls of three different genera of toothed whales, embracing 

 forms of great rarity, and previously unknown in the North Pacific ; 

 third, three specimens of the Kamtschatkan mountain sheep; fourth, 

 about 700 bird-skins, including 7 adults of the great Kamtschatkan 

 sea-eagle, together with a large collection of birds of Kamtschatka and 

 the Commander Islands, some of them new to science ; fifth, collections 

 of the fishes, marine invertebrates, &c. ; and, finally, sixth, collections 

 of Tertiary fossils. 



A considerable number of the water birds and fishes of the Com- 

 mander Islands are supposed to be identical with, or else very closely 

 related to, those of Alaska on the one side and Kamtschatka on the 

 other ; the precise determination of this fact, however, depending upon 

 a careful comparison of specimens. 



No museum in the world has heretofore furnished the opportunity 

 which is now presented in the National Museum for making final decis- 

 ion on these doubtful points. 



Dr. Stejneger makes mention in his report of the most liberal and 

 generous aid rendered by Messrs. Hutchinson, Kohl, Philippeus & Co., 

 as well as by the Alaska Commercial Company and their employes, that 

 was shown him in every possible way, including free passage to and from 

 the islands and quarters during his stay. 



He also especially mentions in the same connection Mr. N. Crebnitsky, 

 manager on the part of the Russian Government of the Commander 

 Islands, for valuable assistance and liberality in adding many of the 

 most interesting specimens to his collection. 



