310 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



bia, the same evening, and crossed to Comox the following day; coaled 

 ship, and at 10.15 a. m. May 31 we sailed for the north, taking the 

 inland passages to tlie northern end of Vancouver Island. 



The Ooniox mine has been opened recently, and consequently little 

 is known concerning it or its product. The wharf is in Union Bay, 

 west side of liaynes Sound, 12 miles from its southern entrance It is 

 easy of approach, the chutes are adjustable, and the delivery of coal 

 is under ])erfect control. The mines are about 13 miles from the 

 shipping-point, the output being transported by rail through a wild 

 and densely wooded country. Union, the nearest settlement, is 11 miles 

 from the wharf; the company's offices are located there. A telegraph 

 line has recently been opened to Victoria, and they are in teleplionic 

 comnumication with the mine and wharf. 



The weather was fair and pleasant after our departure from Comox, 

 and the trip up the Strait of Georgia was without incident. Passed 

 through Seymour Narrows at 6.15 p. m., and anchored for the night two 

 hours later in a snug cove on the east side of Pender Island, where 

 we were out of the strength of the current. Getting under way at 4.15 

 next morning, June 1, we resumed our course through Johnstone Strait 

 to Alert Bay, where we left a mail; thence through Queen Cliarlotte 

 Sound and Goletas Channel, and at 3 p. m. took our departure from 

 Mexicana Point and laid a course for Cape St. James. 



Patrol duty commenced upon our reaching the open waters of the 

 Pacific; masthead lookouts were stationed with instructions to report 

 vessels, seals, whales, driftwood, kelp, etc. The general course was 

 designated by the officer commanding the Bering Sea force, the vessels 

 of the fleet being so disposed as to cover the usual track of the north- 

 ward-bound seal herd and the sealing vessels following it. 



Strong westerly winds were encountered on the 2d, making progress 

 under one boiler rather slow, but it moderated next morning and the 

 speed increased accordingly. 



The Albatross hud a western or offshore route, which carried her out- 

 side the usual track of seals; in fact, we saw none between Vancouver 

 Island and Kadiak, and the first sealing schooner was boarded on the 

 morning of June 6 in latitude 57° 48' N., longitude 148°, W., not far 

 from the lOO-fathom line on the southern edge of Pcn^tlock Bank. 



A detention of two hours occurred on the 5th by the breaking of the 

 piston springs in the port H. P. cylinder, which, leaving the rings with- 

 out proper support, also gave way. No further damage resulted, and 

 after wedging the latter in jilace we steamed ahead again. 



The sealing schooner Annie E. Paint was boarded on the afternoon of 

 the Gth, when the master reported seeing much wreckage in the region 

 assigned to Pamplona liocks; also that IVoin among it a whaleboat had 

 been picked up a few days before with a dead man lying under the 

 thwarts, all of which he considered good evidence of the existence of 

 those dangers. It was sul)sequently ascertained that the whaling bark 

 Sea Ramirr had been wrecked off Cape St. Elias, thus accounting for 

 boat and wreckage. 



