TO OONALASHKA. 265 



to the mean of several observations, was 65° 39' 

 33". Variation of the magnetic needle, 24° 45' 0". 

 Latitude of the western point of the low island, 

 65" 37' 38". Longitude, according to the chrono- 

 meters, 171° 12' 30". 



On the morning of the 29th of August, a faint 

 north wind arose, of which we immediately took 

 advantage. At noon we doubled the low island, 

 when we had a steady N. N. E. wind, and 1 di- 

 rected my course to the eastern part of St. Law- 

 rence Bay, to examine it ; after this I intended to 

 steer to Slioal Ness, to ascertain the extreme navi- 

 gable edge of it. Towards evening, we lost sight 

 of land, the wind became violent, and every indi- 

 cation of a storm, which soon commenced in the 

 N. E. It raged the most violent at midnight ; and 

 though our top-sails were close-reefed, yet I feared 

 that the heavy squalls of wind, caused by the vici- 

 nity of land, might tear them down ; but I was 

 obliged to carry sails to avoid the danger of run- 

 ning on shore. On account of the strong current 

 in this sea, the waves towered high and pointed, 

 and quickly succeeding each other, resembled 

 raging breakers. The little Ilurick was never 

 tossed about so violently. She was scarcely laid 

 with one side in the sea, when a second wave laid 

 her on the other ; and I cannot conceive how the 

 masts were able to endure such violent motions. 

 It poured of lain, and a darkness, which obliged 

 us to grope at random, together with the cur- 



