INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 43 



Treasury Agent Milton Barnes; Government School-teacher J. A. 

 Tuck. 



Mail was received from vessels in the harbor and from shore, and at 

 9:30 p. m. Jnue 14 we proceeded to sea, entering the Pacific through 

 Unalga Pass. Nothing of moment occurred until next morning, when 

 large numbers of seals were seen between Unimak Pass and the San- 

 naks. It is worthy of remark that, with the exception above mentioned, 

 not a seal was seen in the water during the voyage of the Albatross 

 from Puget Sound to Unalaska, the Aleutian Archipelago, the Com- 

 mander Islands, and thence to Unalaska and back to Puget Sound, 

 thongh a vigilant lookout was kept whenever the vessel was underway. 



After passing the Shumagin group, a great-circle course was taken 

 for Cape Plattery. A southeaster was encountered on the 15th and 

 16th, followed by a heavy southwest gale on the 18th and 19th; thence 

 to port, moderate to brisk breezes from the northward and westward. 



We arrived at Port Townsend at 5 p. m. June 23, having sustained 

 no material damage during the rough trip except the disabling of the 

 foreyard, which was immediately replaced by a new one. 



The seal specimens from the Pribilof and Commander islands were 

 lauded at once and forwarded by express as directed; affidavits and 

 other papers were dispatched by registered mail. 



The boilers gave us much trouble during the trip, leaking so badly 

 that salt deposits in the back connections completely cut oft' the draft 

 from some of the furnaces; the engineer's force worked night and day 

 after our arrival to get them in condition for further service. We went 

 to Departure Bay on the 2Gtl), filled up with coal, and returned on the 

 29th, when stores and mail were taken on board for the vessels in 

 Bering Sea, All preparations were completed on the evening of June 

 30, and a little after midnight the Albatross sailed again for Unalaska. 



Scientific results. — The scientific investigations during the northern 

 cruise were confined largely to collecting inforjnation pertaining to the 

 natural history of the fur seal, and the gathering of such other faints as 

 might have a bearing upon the question at issue between the (irovern- 

 ment of the United States and that of Great Britain concerning that 

 animal. The detailed report of these investigations will be made at the 

 proper time by Prof. Evermann and Mr. Townsend. 



Very little time or attention could be given to other lines of natural- 

 history work; yet, by taking advantage of the occasional days when 

 the regular work could not be carried on, the naturalists on board were 

 able to make considerable collections of fishes, birds, and marine 

 invertebrates. Important collections of fishes were made at Port 

 Graham, Kadiak, Port Etches, Unalaska, Atka, Attn, Bering Island, 

 and Puget Sound. Numerous specimens of birds were secured at each 

 of these places, including a i>articularly interesting series of ptarmigan 

 from Kadiak and the Aleutian Archipelago. Large and valuable col- 

 lections of plants were made, especially from about Unalaska. 



