36 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



A soutlieast gale sprang up on May 30 with a rough sea and thick 

 weather. The south end of Copper Island was made at 11:25 j). m., 

 about 2 miles distant, a narrow strip of beach being seen under the fog. 

 The high land of Bering Island was first seen at 5:30 a. m. on the 31st; 

 then it shut in for a couple of hours, when Cape Manati, the southern 

 extremity of the island, bore NNE. ^ E., magnetic, 9 miles distant. 

 The snow-covered mountains presented a wintry aspect as we steamed 

 along the west coast of the island. The weather gradually cleared, 

 however, and at 1 :15 p. m., when we arrived off the settlement and 

 anchorage of Nikolski, it was blowing fresh from the NW., making it a 

 lee shore, on which the surf Avas breaking so heavily that we hauled off 

 to wait for more favorable weather. 



We had only a general chart of the islands, which was on a scale too 

 small to give detailed information. The positions of settlements were 

 not even indicated, and the only information concerning the anchorage 

 was obtained from a native of Unalaska who had previously visited 

 the islands in the capacity of interpreter, having had nothing whatever 

 to do with the navigation of the vessel; hence his knowledge was limited 

 to a general idea of the surroundings above water. 



A number of soundings were made and codfish were taken while 

 lying-to. Later we swung ship for comj^ass errors. • The results were 

 not accurate, but they answered our purposes, and it was the oidy 

 opportunity we had for compass observations in that region. 



Wind and sea moderated towards evening, and a few minutes before 

 8 p. m. we steamed slowly in, and an hour later came-to off" the settle- 

 ment in 7 fathoms, Mr. Waldemar Paetz, agent of the Eussian Sealskin 

 Company, having pointed out the best berth. He came on board after 

 we anchored and expressed a desire to assist us in every way possible. 



I called on the governor. Col. N. A. Grebnitzky, the following morning 

 and informed him of our mission. He had been advised of our coming 

 from St. Petersburg, and signified his readiness to do anything in his 

 power to assist us, 



A naturalist, hunter, and photographer were dispatched to the North 

 Eookery at once, by dog teams, to examine the locality and procure 

 specimens of the different categories of seals. In the meantime, the 

 most experienced and intelligent of the native population were inter- 

 rogated regarding the various i)hases of seal life on and about the Com- 

 mander Islands. The governor kindly gave us valuable information, 

 besides assisting in getting the natives together, numbers of them being 

 on duty at the rookeries. 



They were unanimously of the opinion that the Pribilof and Bering 

 Islands herds do not mingle; that the latter spend the winters along 

 the Kurile Islands; that their numbers are fast decreasing on the rook- 

 eries, and they attributed it to the indiscriminate slaughter of all ages 

 and sexes by pelagic sealers. There were a few seals on the rookeries, 

 mostly old bulls; a few specimens were i)rocured, but not as many as 

 we had hoped to get. 



