21G REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



off the mouths of the great rivers. Discolored water and soundings of 

 52, G4, and GG fathoms were reported between 5° 00' N. and 5° 12' N. 

 and longitude 4G° 43' W. off the Amazon Biver, yet a cast of the lead 

 in 5° 01' N., 4G° 44' W., developed a depth of 1,876 fathoms. In the 

 China Sea, off the great rivers, patches of discolored water are of fre- 

 quent occurrence, and I have a vivid recollection of the anxiety their 

 unexpected appearance caused me during my early cruising in those 

 waters. 



The Gulf of Alaska receives the drainage of the greatest glacial 

 system in the United States, if not in the world; its waters reach the 

 sea icy cold and ladened with mud, heavier than the warmer waters of 

 the gulf, hence they find their way seaward in the great system of 

 ocean circulation as submarine currents, until by gradual precipitation 

 of glacial mud and increase of temperature the relative specific gravity is 

 reversed and they appear on the surface in patches of discolored water. 



Strong westerly winds and rough seas were encountered on the 15th, 

 which interfered somewhat with the work of sounding, but moderate 

 to smooth weather followed until our arrival in Sitka at 1.30 p. m. 

 September 17. Leaving Sitka at 2.30 p. m. September 18, we entered 

 Goletas Channel at 2.30 a. m. on the 21st, after a smooth and unevent- 

 ful run; reached Seymour Narrows at 5.30 p. m., two hours after high 

 water, and encountered an adverse current of about 9 knots per hour, 

 with the swirls and whirlpools incident to the narrow and intricate 

 pass. Its full strength was not felt until we reached the southern 

 entrance, and being under one boiler and not particularly good fires 

 we were barely able to hold our own for the few minutes required to 

 raise sufficient steam to send us through. We anchored for the night 

 near Oyster Bay, reached Union Bay at 9.30 the following morning, 

 took on board 145 tons of Comox coal, and at 8.35 a. m. September 23 

 left for Port Townsend, arriving at 12.54 a. m. on the 24th. 



We were detained at the latter port until 8.3G a. m. on the 26th, 

 when we left for San Francisco, arriving at 12.15 a. m. September 30, 

 and at Mare Island at 2.15 p. m. 



Ensign Houston Eldredge, United States Navy, reported for duty 

 October 17; Ensign E. A. Anderson, United States Navy, was detached 

 on the 19th, and Ensign IT. B. Wilson, United States Navy, on the 20th. 



Passed Assistant Surgeon E. S. Bogert, jr., United States Navy, was 

 ordered to take charge of the medical department of this vessel, in 

 addition to his duties on board the Boston, on October 30, and having 

 been finally detached from that vessel, he reported for duty Novem- 

 ber 4, relieving Passed Assistant Surgeon T. A. Berryhill, United 

 States Navy, who was detached October 31. Passed Assistant Engi- 

 neer A. M. Hunt, United States Navy, was detached on the 8th, Passed 

 Assistant Engineer Howard Gage, United States jSIavy, being ordered 

 to take charge of the engineer's department in addition to his duties 

 on board the U. S. S. Monterey, to which vessel he was attached. 



