128 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Fishing, liiiuting, aud seiniug parties were sent out. Flounders, 

 sculpins, small cod, salmon, salmon trout, sea trout, and clams were 

 found liere. On certain week days during the salmon season the seine 

 is hauled by the native women, who wade into the water up to their 

 shoulders while the men stand on the shore and direct their movements. 



The settlement of Morzhovoi village consists of 34 males and 40 

 females, of native blood, and whites. Several low frame houses, the 

 property of the Alaska Commercial Company, a (xreek frame church, 

 and a number of barabaras constitute the dwellings. The village is 

 situated on a low sloping bluff, terminating in a rocky and gravelly 

 spit on the south shore of the cove. Bear, fox, and otter hunting are 

 the principal occupations. 



Our stay of three days at this port gave us the first opportunity in 

 the cruise to overhaul the engines and make some repairs which were 

 absolutely necessary. In the meantime the officers of the ship made a 

 reconnoissance of the harbor (Traders Cove), and Isanotski Strait, or 

 False Pass, as it is commonly known, running lines of soundings and 

 correcting the shore line, which was much oat, thereby doing some 

 valuable work in developing tliis locality for future navigation. 



From careful inquiry and statements made by the traders and natives 

 at this port, I found that during a brief period of about twelve days in 

 the first part of June, fur-seals are observed to pass into Bering Sea by 

 this route. Then all traces of them disappear as suddenly as they 

 came. The tides in Traders Cove are much influenced by the jirevailing 

 winds. A backset, however, is observed in the ebb tide, making a long 

 and short tidal interval of 15'^ 30™ flood and 8^^ 30'" ebb. 



Leaving Morzhovoi on the morning of July 20, the Albatross passed 

 out of Isanotski Strait with a strong ebb tide and dense fog, mak- 

 ing about 16 knots over the ground. At 10.20 a. m. anchored in 

 Ikutan Bay near the TJ. S. S. Petrel, which was waiting our arrival in 

 order to proceed to the Sannak Islands. In Ikutan Bay good holding- 

 ground is found in a small cove immediately west of Ikatok Point, on 

 the south side of the bay, which offers good protection from southeast- 

 erly, southerly, and southwesterly winds aud sea. For northeasterly, 

 northerly, and northwesterly weather, a safe anchorage is found on the 

 north side of the bay west of Sankin Island, close to and under the 

 bluff east of the entrance to the strait. Both anchorages are free 

 from the rush of tide, which has a velocity of 7 to 9 knots in the pass. 



In this bay were found young salmon, salmon trout, tomcod, sand 

 lance, flounders, and sea trout. Cod and halibut were caught in large 

 numbers with hand lines. 



On July 22 got under way in company with the U. S. S. Petrel, and 

 stood over for the Sanuaks. Commenced a line of soundings abreast of 

 Cape Pankof, bearing SW. ^ S., distant 1 mile, and continued same with 

 3-niile intervals to Acherk Harbor, Sannak Island. The deepest water 

 between Cape Pankof and Acherk Harbor was found IJ miles ESE. 

 from Cape Pankof, where it reaches 50 fathoms. It shoals gradually 



