INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 223 



Tuesday morning - , the 5th of June, got under way and steamed over 

 to Agattu Island, about 30 miles SSE. (mag.) from Attn, to an entirely 

 new field of investigation. Stood in and anchored in a broad, open 

 bay on the eastern end of the island in 10 fathoms, sand and gravel. 

 Sent seining, hunting, and fishing parties ashore in charge of Messrs. 

 Townsend and Miller, and made fishing trials over the side, catching 

 many cod and a few mackerel. 



Little hydrographic work has been done around this island and, from 

 the soundings taken when running in, this end appears to have a grad- 

 ually sloping platform extending off 6 miles or more, which I should 

 have developed, instead of making a reconnaissance, which was done 

 by the officers on the afternoon of the 5th, had time permitted. At 

 G miles it shows an average depth of 35 fathoms, gray sand and broken 

 shells, which may extend well to the eastward and be a future held of 

 examination. I have named this place McDonald Bay, in honor of the 

 United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 



On the morning of the 6th sent seining and fishing parties on shore 

 with Mr. Townsend; weather thick, and blowing fresh from the south- 

 ward. Ban a line of soundings out 6 miles over the platform to the 

 eastward of Agattu; found the bottom irregular and studded with rocky 

 patches, changing the soundings abruptly 8 to 10 fathoms. Therefore 

 I deferred dredging in consequence of the probable loss of any appa- 

 ratus sent to the bottom, and accordingly shaped a course due east 

 (mag.) for the island of Kiska, on the Bering Sea side of this chain of 

 islands. The conditions of weather were such as to make it impossible, 

 with our limited time, to investigate more fully the banks to the east- 

 ward of Attn. This will have to remain for future work. The seining 

 and fishing parties sent out at Agattu had negative results; but better 

 conditions were looked for near Kiska, on the northeast side of the 

 island. 



With a strong westerly wind, the weather remained thick and foggy. 

 This, in connection with the variable currents near these islands, would 

 make the location of any platform suitable for dredging more or less 

 doubtful. Had the weather remained pleasant for one or two days, I 

 should have been able to have accomplished some good results, which 

 would probably have been of interest to the Fish Commission. With 

 unlimited time at this season of the year, I can readily see that a 

 thorough examination of the platforms along these islands and in the 

 several passes would undoubtedly open up a new field which would be 

 productive of good results. 



June 7, at 2 p.m., ran in and anchored in Kiska Harbor, on the east 

 side of Kiska Island. Sent seining, fishing, and hunting parties on 

 shore. Some salmon and trout were caught in a lake at the head of 

 the bay. A few ptarmigan, ducks, and geese were secured by the 

 hunters. Very little game appears to occur in this vicinity. The 

 weather changed rapidly during the night to a stiff SE. blow, with 

 rain, which drove in a dense fog, shutting out the laud. On the 8th 



