INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 37 



There are two rookeries on Bering- Island ; the Korth Rookery, abeady 

 mentioned, near the northern extremity of the island and distant about 

 8 miles from IS^ikolski, and Polndenni, a small and unimportant rookery 

 lying 17 miles south of the settlement. 



An excellent skeleton of a sea-cow, Rhytina stelleri, was purchased 

 from a native at Nikolski; it was the third, and he claimed the best, 

 he had found. 



A reconnoisance of Nikolski Bay was made during our stay, which, 

 although incomplete, will prove of great assistance to a stranger in 

 making the anchorage. The position of the Salt House on Ykhodni 

 Point, by observations with artificial horizon, June 1, 1892, was found 

 to be latitude 55° 10' 30" north, and longitude 106° 00' 58.5" east; 

 variation, 3° 37' east. The region is a dangerous one, and should be 

 navigated with the greatest cautiou. 



The governor visited the ship on the morning of June 3, and at 5:25 

 p. m. the same day we left for Copper Island, having on board a native 

 pilot sent to us by the governor. 



Arriving off the village of Preobrajenski at 9:15 the following morn- 

 ing, we were boarded by the agent of the Russian Seal-Skin Company, 

 Mr. E. G. Kluge, who came out in a whaleboat with a crew of boys 

 and the patriarch of the village as coxswain, the hunters all being 

 absent, some guarding the rookeries and others on the sea-otter grounds. 

 The village lies on the south shore of a small bay, 10 miles from the 

 north end of the island, which is accessible to small craft only. A 

 vessel may anchor outside in fine weather, but she would be exposed 

 to all winds from the northwest to east and southeast. 



It was our intention to intei-rogate the hunters of this island regard- 

 ing seal life, but finding it impracticable, owing to their absence, we 

 took the agent's boat in tow, and with himself and party on board 

 started for the Polatka Rookery, which is the largest and most impor- 

 tant on Copper Island. It lies on the west side, about 10 miles from 

 its southern extremity and 40 miles from the settlement. Arriving at 

 2:30 p. m., a party consisting of the agent and his crew, the naturalists, 

 hunters, and photographer visited the rookery, where they procured a 

 couple of young males, made a general inspection of the locality, and 

 took several photographs illustrating the character of the ground and 

 numbers of seals. With the exception of the two bachelor seals before 

 mentioned, there were none but old bulls hauled out, and they were 

 distributed over the ground holding their claims. 



The 7'ookery extends several miles along a narrow rugged beach, 

 backed by precipitous mountain slopes, mostly inaccessible. The four- 

 l^rincipal rookeries lie along this stretch of beach, and are practicany 

 continuous, all but one having driveways across the island, from 1 to 

 3 miles, surmounting elevations of 400 to 800 feet — much more trying 

 than the Pribilof drives. 



Returning to the village, the agents left the ship and we started 



