Bering's first expeditioi^. 49 



seen give the 16th of August, and this, in his opinion, 

 must be decisive. But the disagreement in these sources 

 is only an apparent one. As we already have noted, 

 Bering reckoned the day from 12 o^clock at noon. Hence 

 the journars 16th of August began at noon on the 15th 

 of August, and as Bering turned back at 3 o'clock in the 

 afternoon, this occurred on the 15th of August according 

 to the calendar, and on the 16th of August according to 

 the artificial day of the journal. Thus Von Baer's cor- 

 rection is based on a misunderstanding.* That this view 

 of the question is correct is seen also from that passage in 

 the journal where the Island of St. Lawrence is men- 

 tioned. According to the journal this island was passed 

 at 2 o'clock p. M. on the 11th of August, and Berch, to 

 whom we are indebted for information concerning Ber- 

 ing's day, is, strange to say, surprised to think that 

 Bering named the island in honor of the saint of the pre- 

 ceding day, notwithstanding that the 11th at 2 o'clock 

 p. M. is in reality, according to the calendar day, the 10th 

 of August, St. Lawrence Day. The first twelve hours of 

 the journal's day belong to the preceding day. Hence, 

 Bering turned back August 15, at 3 o'clock p. m. 



♦Note 38. 



