INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 235 



covery of coal will ncccssitiite a survey, and with it many of the 

 dangers will doubtless disappear. 



It was blowing a moderate gale from the southeast when we anchored, 

 and it had diminished but little in force next morning, but, the fog lift- 

 ing, we got under way and picked our route carefully through narrow, 

 intricate channels across Port Moller to the entrance to Herendeen 

 Bay, and, two hours later, found a snug anchorage under Point Divide, 

 where we were protected from the heavy southerly wind then blowing. 

 1 left the ship soon after anchoring, and, accompanied by Prof. (Hlbert 

 and Chief Engineer Koelker, visited the mine. Ten miles of the distance 

 was made by boat, and about a mile and a half over a tramway re- 

 cently constructed for transporting coal to the water front. A tunnel 

 had been driven into the hillside about 200 feet, and between 70 and 

 100 tons of coal taken out. The superintendent estimated the average 

 output for the mine for the next month at from 10 to 20 tons per day. 

 A 404;on lighter was in process of construction, and they only waited 

 its completion to conmience the delivery of coal. 



The close of the fiscal year finds ofiicers and crew in excellent health 

 and the ship in good working order. The ship has maintained her 

 usual reputation for excellent sanitary conditions during the entire year. 

 There has not been a single case of sickness on board that was due to 

 removable local causes, and no serious accident or serious illness has 

 occurred. 



Natural history results. — Work commenced south of the Sannak 

 Islands on the 21st day of May, in 483 and 313 fathoms, extending to 

 the westward of the group in gradually decreasing depths until 38 

 fathoms was reached. In the deeper waters several species of sea- 

 urchins and shells were taken, and crinoids, shrimps, corals, alcyona- 

 rians, holothurians, and various species of fishes were marked features 

 of the hauls, Careproctus and Myctophum being among them. Drawing 

 shoreward, and changing the character of the bottom from mud to sand, 

 the varieties of fish increased ; Bathymaster, Sehastodes, and Lycodes, 

 besides several species of fiounders and sculpins, were abundant. Of 

 invertebrates there were at least half a dozen species of sponges, an 

 abundance of sand-dollars {IJchinarachnius), shrimps, oi>hiurans, shells, 

 and basket stars {Astropliyton). 



The line of investigation was extended to Bering Sea, via Unimak 

 Pass, in depths from 41 to 178 fathoms, and revealed a fauna of great 

 abundance and variety of species, particularly in the pass and along 

 the 100-fathom curve in the direction of the seal islands. Among the 

 more conspicuous were many flounders, sculpins, skates, pollock, 

 Bathymasters, and codfish, with small Agonidcc, eelpouts, etc. Inver- 

 tebrates were abundant, as(;idians, annelids, and miscellaneous Crus- 

 tacea occurring in addition to those before mentioned. A marked 

 change in the fauna was found upon deepening the water to 225 fathoms 

 north of Unalaska. The sandy bottom gave place to soft mud, the 



