32 CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



was removed, tlie male atteinpted to finish the process of incubation. No nest is made by these 

 birds, as a usual thing, but a suuill quantity of dry grass or feathers is placed on the loek, evidently 

 for the purpose of protecting tiieir plumage from the mould and moisture. From the nest of a 

 cormorant 1 removi-d two full grown birds, to all ajjpearauces the parents of the brood of chicks, 

 and I afterwards observed two other adult birds feeding the chicks and taking a jjarents' caie of 

 them. The kittiwakes, in many cases, laid but one egg each ; sometimes two, and a set of three 

 eggs was extremely i;are, according to my observation. 

 . These few facts I give as ones which may possibly be unknown to naturalists. Prof. II. W. 

 Elliott, of the Smithsonian Institution, has so faithfully studied the ornithology of these islands 

 that little remains to be told iu regard to the habits of the birds there found. 



The result of soundings wliicii I made in the vicinity of Otter Island is shown on the accom- 

 panying chart. Several dangerous shoals and rocks, Iiilherto unknown, are to be observed there. 



The journal which I kept during my stay on the islands is herewith respectfully submitted for 

 your api>roval. 



A comi)aratively small number of seals visited Otter Island this season. The animals which 

 go tbere are evidently stragglers from St. Paul, and the frequency and length of their visits 

 appear to be governed by the weather. While the necessity of this detail for the i)rotection of 

 Otter Island and St. Paul Island is .self-evident, I would respectfully suggest that the otlicer sent 

 there could perform that duty better if stationed on the latter island instead of the former. He 

 should, of course, be instructed to visit Otter Island whenever practicable, as well as the more 

 remote portions of St. Paul Island, iu order to observe any possible depredations. Marauders 

 are not so likely to attempt to take seals from Otter Island, which is so well protected by rocks 

 and heavy surf, as they are to visit the northern part of St. Paul Island, where a fine sandy 

 beach extends for nules on either side of the island, and seals are to be fouiul in great abundance. 

 With the small boat provided for use on Otter Island, and a crew of only two men, it would be 

 impossible, usually, to board aiul seize any vessel which might be detected in the attempt to kill 

 seals. I would respecttully urge the necessity of having a small boat howitzer provided for the 

 ollicer detailed for duty at that place. With that and a large boat and crew which the Alaska 

 Commercial Company would willingly furtiish whenever desired, one oflicer stationed on the island 

 of St. I'aul could protect it and the adjacent waters from the depredations of marautling vessels, 

 and would also \)0 able to take by force any vessel found violating the law. 



On the (Jth of July I sart- a bark to the westward. She stood inshore until within five miles 

 of Otter Island, then ran ofishore again. The next morning she came in sight once more, standing 

 in from the westward. When about five miles west northwest of Otter Island she hove to and 

 loweied a boat. Considering her movements unaccountable, if not suspicious, I imnieiliately went 

 out and boarded the vessel. I found her to be the bark Coral, Kelley master, from San Francisco, 

 on a whaling cruise. An examination of the vessel disclosed no violation of law, and the master 

 explained that he was in search of medical assistance, and, being unaccpiainted with those waters, 

 did not wish to approach too close to land. Ho sent the sick man ashore at St. Paul and pro- 

 ceeded to sea that afternoon. 



No other strange vessel was seen until the 3d of August, when I observed a small schooner 

 about twenty miles to the eastward, .steering in a .southwesterly direction. On the 8th, and again 

 on the lOlh, a schooner, to all appearances the same one, came in sight from the southwest and 

 was observed to be heading directly for Otter Island until lost to view in the fog which shut in 

 shortly afterward. 



On the 20th of August I left Otter Island and went to St. Paul to await the Conriii\s arrival. 

 AH of the seals had left the former island and no more vessels had been seen. 



Another schooner ai)i)eared southwest of St. Paul on the morning of the 29th, and was in 

 sight during the forenoon. 



On the afternoon of the following day another schooner came in sight from the southwest and 

 stood up the west side of the island. From the movements of the last vessel I inferred that she 

 would attempt to take .seals on the northern part of St. Paid Island. Therefore I secured the 

 services of six natives, and with them, my two men, and a volunteer in the person of one of the 

 employes of the Alaska Commercial Company, immediately set out for Northeast Point in a large 



