2S RErORT OF TlIK COMMTSSTOXER OF FI.^II AND FlSiJHinES. 



C. Koi'tli, a,iioiit of the Alaska, Commercial Comi^any, came on board 

 sooiJ after our arri\al and was of jireat service to us iu prosecuting our 

 investigations, particularly in getting the native hunters together and* 

 acting as interpreter. Au unusually severe winter and late spring was 

 reported at this place also, Avhicli still confined the hunters to winter 

 quarters. The capture of the sea otter afitbrds the principal employ- 

 ment of the natives, altliough l)ears and other land ainmals are taken, 

 but the value of their furs is insigniticant in comparison with that of 

 the former. There were one or more native boats codfishing in the 

 upper bay whenever the weather permitted, and no doubt they have 

 the means of taking herring, but we saw none caught by them, altliough 

 they were plentiful in the bay and large numbers were taken in our 

 collecting seine. Codfish were taken with hook and line from the rail, 

 and, while rather small, they were found to be of good quality. 



Au easterlj' gale and heavy snowstorm sprung up on the afternoon 

 ofthelGthand continued with slight interiuption until the following 

 evening, detaining us iu i)ort meanwhile. It (deared during the night, 

 however, and at 3:15 a. m. on the ISth we got under way and steamed 

 to the eastward. Cape Hiuchinbrook was abeam an hour later, 2 miles 

 distant, and at noon Castle Rock, a conspicuous and unmistakable 

 landmark, lying off Cape St. Elias, bore NE. f E., magnetic, 20 miles 

 distant. The weather was unusually clear and, tradition having given 

 the region a bad uame, nioi'e than usual precautions were taken not 

 only for the safe navigation of the vessel, but to confirm the existence 

 or nonexistence of reported dangers. 



H. O. chart 5i*7 shows a rock -.1^*; 9 in latitude 50^ 'M' north, longi- 

 tude 144° 43' west; but a sounding in 377 fathoms, gravel an<l mud 

 bottom, i)roves the nonexistence of the danger in that i)osition. The 

 following soundings, leading up to it, increase regularly in depth and 

 seem to confirm its absence on that line or near it, for our masthead 

 lookout would have seen discolored water at least 5 miles on either 

 hand. In latitude 50° 34' 45" north, longitude 144^ 58' west, the lead 

 indicated 81 fathoms, green mud; and in 50° 33' north, 144^ 52' west, 

 07 fathoms with the same character of bottom. The rock is probably 

 nearer Cai)e St. Elias, a dangerous locality, where obstructions of that 

 description are to be exi)ected. Three fur seals were seen between 

 noon and 4 p. m., and six during the next two hours. 



Our vicinity to one of t!ie assigned positions of Pamplona Eocks 

 toward evening was sufhcieiit inducement for renewed vigilance, for 

 we had already demonstrated their nonexistence in the oifsliore position 

 given them on the ch.aits, and where, in 1888, the Albatross ran a line 

 of soundings in from 1,000 to 1,800 fathoms. At 8:30 p. m. a sounding 

 was made in 15(1 fathoms, pebbles, latitude 50o 35' north and longitude 

 143° 21' west. 



The presence of a few scattering seals so early in the season led us 

 to suspect that the vanguard of the herd might be encountered not 



