208 OFFICIAL REPORTS. 



Report of Captain Hooper, dated August 17, 1892. 



Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin, 



Port of Unalaska, August 17, 1802. 

 Commander R. D. Evans, IT. S. 1ST., 



U. S. IS. Yorktoicn, Com" 1 dig. U. 8. Naval Force in Bering Sea: 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following account of the move- 

 ment of this vessel since July 23d, upon which date we entered, in 

 obedience to your orders, dated July 19th, 1892, upon the unfinished 

 duties assigned to the U. S. Eevenue steamer Albatross, that vessel 

 having been ordered home on account of a defective boiler. The delay 

 in the Corivin's departure upon this duty was due to a short trip made 

 to the vicinity of False Pass, in obedience to your verbal orders to pro- 

 ceed to and guard False Pass until the arrival of the Yorktoicn. 



At 4 p. m., July 23d, having made all preparations for a cruise, we 

 hauled away from the wharf at Dutch Harbor, and taking the American 

 bark General Fairchild in tow, steamed out of the harbor. Gave the 

 bark an offing of about 10 miles; cast off and steered for St. George 

 Island in a thick fog. At daylight on the following morning (24th), fog 

 thinning out a little, made sail and stationed a seal lookout; wind 

 increasing to a strong breeze. At meridian passed American whaling 

 brig Francis A. Barker. Too rough to board her. At 3:15 p. m., fog- 

 very thick and sea rough, vessel, by reckoning, 22 miles from St. George, 

 took in flying jib and topsail, and stopped engine ; sounded in 50 fathoms 

 water, sounding every half hour, water shoaling gradually to 34 fathoms, 

 when, the fog thinning a little, we caught sight of a small patch of sun 

 and a minute later the land came in sight close aboard and we were able 

 to recognize Sea Lion Point, near the east end of St. George. At 7 :30 

 p. m. came to anchor off the village; too rough to communicate with the 

 shore. The North American Commercial Company's steamer Bertha 

 came in and anchored a few minutes later. She reported seeing a 

 schooner off Sea Lion Rocks, St. Pauls, as she came away from the 

 island. During the day scattering seals were seen increasing in num 

 bers as we approached the island. 



July 25, at 1 a. in., we got under way from St. George and went over to 

 St. Paul, where we arrived and " came to" off east anchorage at 6 a. m., 

 weather thick, wind moderate from the west; saw scattering seals on 

 the passage between the islands. Sent an officer on shore to communi- 

 cate with agent. At 7 officer returned and reported the U. S. S. York- 

 town at anchor 2 niires off South West Bay. Got under way and went 

 around to South West Bay, anchored near the Yorktown, and reported 

 to you in person. The sea being too rough to admit of landing, both 

 vessels changed position to east anchorage, where the landing was very 

 good. In company with you a part of the day was spent on the island. 

 In the evening the U. S. S. Adams came in and anchored for a short 

 time. After communicating with the flagship and sending some mail 

 for the island on board the Corwin she got under way and steamed to 

 the southwest. 



July 2G, wind southwest with fog; sent on shore the mail for the 

 island left by the Adams and landed Mr. Townsend, who wished to con- 

 tinue his observations upon the seals on shore for a few days. 



At your request I sent the seal-hunter, Hodgson, on board the York- 

 town that he might be taken to Unalaska to identify Hanson, the mas- 

 ter of the seized schooner Winifred, as the same man who when in 

 charge of the schooners Adelc and Bsrcalis had raided the seal islands. 

 At 11 a. m. got under way and steamed over to St. George; arrived 



