INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 129 



the shore. A thick fog shutting down prevented a continuation of the 

 hue of soundings aloug the north shore of the Sannaks. We therefore 

 anchored iu the entrance to Acherk Harbor in 11 fathoms, soft bottom. 

 The steam cutter was lowered and equipped for a two-days' run, in 

 order to make an examination of the harbors and shore line of the 

 north and east sides of these islands. Taking the whaleboat of the 

 Petrel in tow, the cutter left the ship, in charge of Ensign \Y. E. Shoe- 

 maker, U. S. Navy, assisted by Ensign M. L. Bristol, U. S. ISTavy, from 

 the Petrel. The cruise of the cutter was successful as far as searching 

 the coast line and harbors for the i>resence of seals and sealers is con- 

 cerned. They covered a distance of 40 miles, and returned without 

 accident, having run the greater i)ortion of the distance in a dense fog, 

 working in and out among the reefs, which are numerous around the 

 harbors of these islands. 



The following day, July 23, it blew fresh from the SW,, with thick 

 fog, and heavy sea breaking on the reefs half a mile to the westward 

 of our anchorage. These reefs form a good breakwater to vessels lying 

 at anchor in the entrance to Acherk Harbor in 10 or 12 fathoms of 

 water. As the weather did not improve, it therefore became impos- 

 sible to make an examination of the bottom on the north side of the 

 islands within the limited space of time allowed. Hence the Albatross 

 left Acherk Harbor in the forenoon of July 21 to return to Dutch Har- 

 bor, Unalaska. A dense fog was carried to Uniniak Pass, when it lifted 

 sufficiently to lay a course through the pass. The next morning fell 

 in with the American bark J. D. Peters, of San P'rancisco, returning 

 from Port Clarence. Sent oflicer on board to warn him. Came to 

 anchor at 11 a. m. Found the U. S. S. Mohican imd Alert in port. The 

 Petrel arrived the same evening, and the Concord on the 29th. 



Coaled on the 27th and 28tli, and sailed on the 30tli to cruise to the 

 westward and northwestward of the Pribilof Islands, outside of the 

 60-mile zone. A detour was made to the westward of Dutch Harbor 

 for a distance of 101 miles, which xilaced us in the SW. quadrant, 100 

 miles from St. George, at noon of the 3 1st of July. Having sighted none 

 of the sealers which had cleared for Bering Sea on the 28th, the course 

 was then laid for St. (reorge in order to pick up the naturalists, who 

 had been left at the Pribilofs on our previous visit. 



We arrived oif St. George and anchored off the village on the morn- 

 ing of August I : found the U. S. S. Adams there. Left mail for St. 

 George, and got under way for St. Paul Island, where we arrived at 6 

 p. m., and found Messrs. Townsend and Miller, who came on board. 

 We sailed that evening for a cruise to the northwest of the Pribilofs. 

 On August 3 and 4 a line of soundings was run in order to develop the 

 platform in this region. The line terminatod in latitude 00° 25' N"., lon- 

 gitude 178° 40' W., 125 miles from Cape Nazarin, eastern Siberia, bearing 

 IST. 29° W. true. The appearance of bad weather a])proa('hing, together 

 with a limited coal supply, prevented further continuation of the line 

 F. R. 95 9 



