INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 221 



fishermen say that a very good trade is carried on in salmon during 

 July and August, when they pass ud Haro Strait to the westward of 

 San Juan Island. 



At Waldron Island Messrs. Townsend and Alexander visited the 

 fishing hamlets on both sides of Sandy Point, on the west end of 

 the island, half a dozen fishermen being interrogated. Two hauls of 

 the seine on the beach at Cowlitz Bay and fishing trials with hand lines 

 resulted but indifferently. Lay at anchor for the night in Cowlitz 

 Bay, Waldron Island, and at daybreak on the 6th steamed over to Lucia 

 Island, arriving at 7.40 a. in. Here some valuable information was 

 obtained and photographs secured of types of fishing vessels and boats. 

 Seining and fishing parties were sent out, and a rich and varied collec- 

 tion was obtained. Beturning, we left Lucia Island at 11.20 for Port 

 Townsend, where we arrived at 6 the same afternoon. 



On the 10th Messrs. Townsend and Alexander left the ship to continue 

 their work in Paget Sound and among the boundary islands. 



May 10 final orders for sailing were received. Next morning at early 

 daylight the entire fleet got under way, the Yorlctown, Adams, Alert, 

 and Corwin going out byway of the Straits of Fuca to their respective 

 patrol stations. The Albatross followed the flagship Mohican through 

 Haro Straits, Active Pass, and Strait of Georgia to Tribune Bay (south 

 side of Hornby Island, British Columbia), where we anchored for the 

 night, having made a run of 129 miles from Port Townsend. 



At 9 a. in. on the 18th got under way with the Mohican, and stood up 

 the Strait of Georgia and through Discovery Passage for Seymour 

 Narrows, which we passed through at p. in. at high-water slack. 

 Continued on up Johnstone Strait to Alert Bay, Cormorant Island, 

 where we anchored at 2 o'clock the next morning. Captain Lennan, 

 who had been sent on board the flagship at Port Townsend to act as 

 their pilot during the run up the inside passage, returned on board 

 shortly after anchoring. 



We were under way again at 4.10 a. m. May 19, and stood out 

 through Goletas Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound to sea, thence 

 shaping course for Unalaska in obedience to sealed orders to "proceed 

 there with all dispatch, coal, and sail for Attn Island for the purpose of 

 landing Lieutenant Jacobs, IT. S. R. M., and his assistant, then to 

 return to Unalaskaj on the way back, however, to endeavor to be off 

 the principal passages between the western groups of islands during 

 the daytime, if possible, so as to intercept any sealers which may come 

 from the westward with the intention of entering Bering Sea." 



May L'O proved to be a pleasant day, with moderate long swell from 

 the southwest and light head winds. A succession of thick fogs were 

 encountered until the forenoon of the 25th, when the barometer fell 

 rapidly and it came on to blow a gale from the northeast. At 7 p. m., 

 having arrived off Unimak Pass, the weather being thick and the 

 horizon so obscured that objects could not be distinguished over a 



