INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 243 



1883, when C apt. Anderson, of the SGhooner Matthew Turner, i^assed near 

 it and reported a new Bogoslof, with flame, smoke, and steam issuing 

 from the crater and numerous fissures in its sides. The revenue cutter 

 Corivin examined it in 1884, when it was still active, and a subsequent 

 visit in 1885 developed no material change. Sail Rock was reported to 

 be 86 feet in height. 



The Albatross i^assed within three quarters of a mile of the island on 

 the afternoon of August 2, 1S90, but did not land. It was an unusually 

 clear day, Makushin and the high lands of Umnak being distinctly 

 visible. Sail Rock had fallen, its original position being marked by the 

 debris. New Bogoslof was enveloped in smoke and steam so dense 

 that its outlines could not l)e accurately determined, but its altitude 

 was not far from 400 feet. There were no outlying dangers visible, and 

 a couple of soundings taken 2 miles from the old cone on diflerent bear- 

 ings gave 649 and 578 fathoms, the latter being on the reef marked on 

 old charts as extending from Bogoslof to the north end of Umnak. It 

 is needless to say that this reef does not exist. Myriads of guillemots 

 were seen on the island and for 15 miles or more around it, and a part 

 of the beach was occupied by a rookery of very large sea lions. Old 

 Bogoslof is rapidly crumbling away, and will, like Sail Rock, eventually 

 disapi^ear. 



Bering 8ea. — A westerly course was continued during the night, and 

 at six the following morning the trawl was lowered in 1,033 fathoms, 

 latitude 55° 53' N., longitude 170'^ 50' W., making a successful haul. 

 The bottom was composed almost wholly of diatomaceous ooze, the 

 absence of foraniinifera being a marked feature in the waters of Bering 

 Sea. The course was then changed to the northward, and soundings 

 made at 50-mile intervals, which gave 1,745, 1,818, 1,625, and 69 fathoms, 

 the latter in latitude 56^^ 50' N., longitude 172° 30' AV., and near the 

 100-fathom line. Seals were frequently seen after wereached soundings, 

 and, the fog lifting for a short time, two sealing schooners were sighted, 

 with their boats out in the successful prosecution of their enterprise. 



The line of soundings was extended to latitude 58° 43' N., longitude 

 1740 43' W., in 144 fathoms, giving the trend of the 100-fathom line 

 about NW. ^ N., magnetic. A southerly gale sprang' up during the 

 evening»of the 4th, and work was carried on the next day under many 

 difliculties and unusual wear and tear of machinery. The rough 

 weather told on our supjily of fuel also, and finally induced us to turn 

 to the southward during the afternoon of the 5th. Standing on all 

 night under low speed and short sail, a sounding was made next morn- 

 ing i^ 1,887 fathoms, latitude 56° 50' K, and longitude 175° 15' W. 

 Another one was taken during the afternoon in 1,998 fathoms, green 

 ooze, in latitude 56° 02' N,, longitude 175° 35' W. A bottom temper- 

 ature and water specimen were taken in sounding, and subsequently 

 serial temperatures and Avater specimens were taken to 1,000 fathoms, 

 the temperatures ranging from 48^^ F, at the surface to 34,9° F, at th§ 



