INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 7 



moved bodily to the westward with a broad sweep. A bar or middle 

 ground was found a few hundred yards to the eastward of a line drawn 

 between the cones. Wishing to anchor while the party was on shore, 

 a boat was sent ahead sounding into the bight midway between the 

 old and new peaks. Good anchorage being reported, with nothing less 

 than 20 fathoms until near the spit, yve started ahead slowly, the first 

 sounding 20 fathoms and the next 9 feet, the vessel having moved 

 less til an twice her length. Of course the bow was aground, but we 

 backed off without damage or delay. The boat had crossed the bank 

 before commencing to sound. The beaches, the bank above mentioned, 

 and the isthmus formerly connecting the tvro cones are composed of 

 fine cinders, ashes, etc., lighter than sand or gravel, and are in conse- 

 quence washed back and forth with every heavy gale. 



Myriads of guillemots covered the rugged cliffs of tliB active volcano, 

 as well as the extinct cone, and luige flocks were constantly coming 

 and going in their usual active, bustling manner, their curiosity being 

 evinced frequently by hundreds or thousands deviating from their 

 course and circling aroun<l the vessel several times as closely as they 

 considered prudent, observing us with apparent interest. 



A sea-lion rookery referred to in former reports, near the base of old 

 Bogoslof, was occupied as usual. Tliis colony is notable for the 

 unusual size of some of the old bulls. They seemed quite tame, per- 

 mitting several of the shore party to approach close to them before 

 showingsigns of fear. Their location being remote from the usual routes 

 in Bering Sea, they are seldom disturbed, and the few that have been 

 killed were taken by officers of the Alaska Commercial Company, who 

 never wantonly destroy or disturb these, to them, usefnl animals. 



Bogoslof Island to Fuget Sound. — The party returned from shore a few 

 minutes after noon, when wo started for Unalaska. The afternoon was 

 clear, and the snow-capped peak of Makushin volcano was visible even 

 from Bogoslof, and as we approached the rugged shores of Unalaska 

 the peak of Akutan became visible while Bogoslof was still in sight, 

 thus affording the unusual view of three active volcanoes at the same 

 time. 



We hove-to off Cape Cheerfnl and put the cod lines over, but the trial 

 was unsuccessful. Probably it was too late. Our experience in Bering 

 Sea has been that codfish usnally cease to bite about sunset. A few 

 scattering specimens were taken at all hours of the uiglit when the vessel 

 was at anchor on-fishing-grounds, but never in paying numbers. 

 After a delay of 10 miiuites we steamed ahead and arrived at Iliuliuk 

 at 8:10 p. m. 



The revenue-cutters Rush and Corwin came in and anchored a few 

 minutes later. 



We went to the coal wharf the following morning, and at 12:0,"> p. 

 m. August 13 finished coaling. The U. S. S. Alert arrived during the 

 morning. Mail was received from the vessels in the harbor as well as 



