306 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
articles obtained in St. Michaels were transported to Unalaska on the 
steamer St. Paul without charge. 
When it became evident that the Albatross would be unable to con- 
tinue her work, arrangements were made for Professor EVermann and 
Mr. Miller to visit the Seal Islands. The North American Commercial 
Company’s steamer Bertha was about to sail on her regular annual 
supply trip, and, through the courtesy of Mr. Tingle, the superintendent 
of the company, they were furnished transportation on that vessel, sail- 
ing July 17 and returning August 1, having made headquarters on 
board during the whole trip. Professor Evermann reported that they 
had made a careful inspection of the rookeries and had taken an exten- 
sive and valuable series of photographs, illustrating various phases of 
seal life. Mr. Tingle declined to accept compensation for the trans- 
portation and subsistence of the party. 
An order was received from Commander R. D. Evans, commanding 
the United States naval force in Bering Sea, dated August 1, directing 
me to take charge of the British schooner Winifred and deliver her to 
the collector of customs at Sitka, Alaska. This small sealer, of 11 tons 
register, was captured July 29 in Bering Sea. She leaked badly about 
the decks and rudder, and was hardly seaworthy. Ensign E. A. 
Anderson was ordered as prize-master when the schooner was turned 
over to us, and soon had her in fairly good condition for the trip. 
Steam was raised on the after boiler August 1, with reduced pressure 
of 40 pounds, and as it stood the test fairly well we decided to start, 
although the forward one was not quite ready for service. Accordingly, 
at 7.10 a. m. August 3, we took the prize in tow and proceeded to sea, 
entering the Pacific via the Akutan Pass. Our speed was necessarily 
slow under one boiler and reduced pressure, but we were obliged to 
reduce it still more to accommodate the diminutive craft in tow, although 
the sea was smooth. 
The voleano of Akutan presented an interesting display during the 
early part of the afternoon. Dense volumes of smoke were intermit- 
tently ejected from the crater high into air, rising like ever-growing 
plumes, until finally all shape was lost in cloudlike drift. The puffs 
were accompanied by detonations which were distinctly heard on board. 
Shishaldin, Pavlof, and Aghileen volcanoes were in sight the following 
day, but none of them gave evidence of activity. 
Nothing occurred worthy of note until the morning of the 6th, when 
a fresh southeast wind, with short, irregular sea, compelled the schooner 
to cast off and heave to under storm sail. She made some headway as 
the wind veered, and we finally took her in tow again the next morning. 
The working boiler began leaking seriously on the 8th, and became 
so badly salted that we were obliged to let the fires die down on the 
10th and get steam on the other one, which by that time was ready for 
use. The remainder of the trip was uneventful, and with pleasant 
weather and smooth seas we made good progress, arriving in Sitka at 
7.40 a.m. August 11. The Winifred, together with her papers, person- 
