310 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
bia, the same evening, and crossed to Comox the following day; coaled 
ship, and at 10.15 a. m. May 31 we sailed for the north, taking the 
inland passages to the northern end of Vancouver Island. 
The Comox mine has been opened recently, and consequently little 
is known concerning it or its product. The wharf is in Union Bay, 
west side of Baynes Sound, 12 miles from its southern entrance. It is 
easy of approach, the chutes are adjustable, and the delivery of coal 
is under perfect control. The mines are about 13 miles from the 
shipping-point, the output being transported by rail through a wild 
and densely wooded country. Union, the nearest settlement, is 11 miles 
from the wharf; the company’s offices are located there. <A telegraph 
line has recently been opened to Victoria, and they are in telephonic 
communication with the mine and wharf. 
The weather was fair and pleasant after our departure from Comox, 
and the trip up the Strait of Georgia was without incident. Passed 
through Seymour Narrows at 6.15 p.im., and anchored for the night two 
hours later in a snug cove on the east side of Pender Island, where 
we were out of the strength of the current. Getting under way at 4.15 
next morning, June 1, we resumed our course through Johnstone Strait 
to Alert Bay, where we left a mail; thence through Queen Charlotte 
Sound and Goletas Channel, and at 3 p.m. took our departure from 
Mexicana Point and laid a course for Cape St. James. 
Patrol duty commenced upon our reaching the open waters of the 
Pacific; masthead lookouts were stationed with instructions to report 
vessels, seals, whales, driftwood, kelp, etc. The general course was 
designated by the officer commanding the Bering Sea force, the vessels 
of the fleet being so disposed as to cover the usual track of the north- 
ward-bound seal herd and the sealing vessels following it. 
Strong westerly winds were encountered on the 2d, making progress 
under one boiler rather slow, but it moderated next morning and the 
speed increased accordingly. ; 
The Albatross had a western or offshore route, which carried her out- 
side the usual track of seals; in fact, we saw none between Vancouver 
Island and Kadiak, and the first sealing schooner was boarded on the 
morning of June 6 in latitude 57° 48’ N., longitude 148°, W., not far 
from the 100-fathom line on the southern edge of Portlock Bank. 
A detention of two hours occurred on the 5th by the breaking of the 
piston springs in the port H. P. cylinder, which, leaving the rings with- 
out proper support, also gave way. No further damage resulted, and 
after wedging the latter in place we steamed ahead again. 
The sealing schooner Annie H. Paint was boarded on the afternoon of 
the 6th, when the master reported seeing much wreckage in the region 
assigned to Pamplona Rocks; also that from among it a whaleboat had 
been picked up afew days before with a dead man lying under the 
thwarts, all of which he considered good evidence of the existence of 
those dangers. It was subsequently ascertained that the whaling bark 
Sea Ranger had been wrecked off Cape St. Elias, thus accounting for 
boat and wreckage. 
