INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 2 'J 



far away, and, fearing we niiglit pass tliem in tlie iiiglit, the vessel was 

 liove-to until 3 o'clock the following morning, when, the day breaking- 

 bright and clear, we started ahead with a man at the masthead looking 

 out for seal life; also for indications of rocks or discolored water. 



Steaming over one of the positions in which the Pamplona Eocks 

 have been plotted on the charts, latitude 59'=> 35' north, longitude 143° 

 04' west, a sounding was made in 225 fathoms, blue nuid and ]>ebbles, 

 in latitude 59^ 30' north, longitude 142° 57' w^est; and another in 281 

 fathoms, same bottom, latitude 59° 37' north, longitude 142° 45' west. 

 The course, which had been NE. by E. magnetic, was changed to ESE. 

 ^ p]., and having steamed 26 miles, a sounding was taken in 504 

 fathoms, green mud; then running NE. f E. for 12 miles, 114 fathoms, 

 pebbles, was found in 59° 21' north and 141° 51' west. Changing the 

 course to ESE. f E., magnetic, an interval of 11 miles gave us lid 

 fathoms, gravel, in latitude 59° 14' north and longitude 141° 35' west. 

 Steaming 27 miles ESE. | E. magnetic, the last sounding of the series 

 was made at 3:40 p. m. in 471 fathoms, green mud, in latitude 58° 5(;' 

 north, longitude 140° od' west. 



The course was retained until 11:20 p. m., when a rising gale and 

 rough sea forced us to heave to, head to wind. Mount St. Elias was 

 visible until p. m., but increasing clouds and mists obscured it from 

 that time. 



The A^arious courses during the day practically paralleled those of 

 1888, when the Albatross made her first search for the rocks, and, both 

 days being clear during the time of search, the masthead lookout 

 would have noted anything above water at least 10 miles on either 

 hand; hence, we may conclude that these vigias do not exist within 

 the belt 40 miles in width and 100 in length, over which our recon- 

 noissance extends. Ko sign of seal life was observed during the day, 

 although a careful lookout was kept. 



The gale continued until the morning of the 21st, when a small 

 schooner and one seal were seen. Whales, wild geese, puffins, etc., were 

 frequently observed. The engines Avere slowed to steerage way during 

 the night, to avoid passing the sealing fleet or herd in the darkness. 



Having passed the region of Sitka about 100 miles from land, we 

 drew in to about 35 miles otf Forrester Island, where a few scattering- 

 seals and a single schooner were seen. The usual Ai)ril sealing-ground 

 was said to be from the Columbia Eiver to Dixon Entrance, and we 

 were momentarily expecting to see indications of the herd and the 

 sealing fleet, but not a sign of either was observed north of Cape Cook. 



The date of arrival in Port Townsend was prescribed in orders from 

 the Secretary of the Treasury, and, having a couple of days to spare, 

 t'le time was utilized in cruising ofl' Vancouver Island; but few seals 

 w^ere seen, however, and none taken. Several schooners were sighted. 

 The Mascot, of Victoria, had her boats out. She had seen no seals nor 

 sailing vessels sinc<i leaxiiig ])ort, and did not know whetlier the herd 

 were north or south, but " would like to know just where they were." 



