REPORT OF CAPT. HOOPER, DATED AUGUST 17, 189^ 211 



of No. 13 contained fish (pollock), and that of No. 14 was empty. The 

 skin of each was prepared for mounting. After taking - up the boats 

 steamed ahead S. by E. 1-4 E. until 11:15 p. m., when a course was 

 shaped NE. by E. for St. Paul Island, distant 200 miles. Numerous 

 seals were in sight all day. Weather calm and overcast. 



August 3, steering for St. Paul Island; wind light, sea smooth; over- 

 cast and occasional fog banks. Numerous seals were seen during the 

 morning watch. At 8 :30, lat. 3G-29 N., long. 173-38 W., sent out otter 

 boat in charge of Quartermaster Busse. Mr. Townsend volunteered to 

 go in the dingy. At 11:30 called boats alongside. Mr. Townsend 

 brought back two seals, a four-year-old male (Cat. No. 15) and a cow 

 with milk (Cat. No. 1G), the stomach of each containing fish, probably 

 cod. Two shot from the dingy escaped wounded. The otter boat 

 brought back one seal, a two-year-old male (Cat. No. 17), contents of 

 stomach not identified. At 9 p. m., stopped engine for the night on ac- 

 count of fog. August 4th, thick fog all day. Working toward the land, 

 sounding at intervals. Soundings decreased from 00 to 45 fathoms; 

 unable to make out anything. Seals scant during the day, but more 

 plentiful towards evening. At 8 p.m. "came to" in 40 fathoms of 

 water with kedge and 80 fathoms of hawser. Calm and smooth sea, 

 fog very thick. 



August 5th, at 3 :30 a. in., a light NE. wind sprang up and thinned out 

 the fog a little. Made St. Paul Island, NW. Cape, bearing ESE. distant 

 about six miles; got under way and steamed to anchorage off village. 

 Communicated with Treasury agent in charge. At 10 left for Unalaska 

 to coal up. At 10:30 stopped to communicate with the Bush and re- 

 ceived from her our own hunter, who had been sent back by you from 

 Unalaska. Wind fresh NE. At 3:30 passed St. George Island; did not 

 stop. Ordered full speed at starting in order to get to Unalaska, coal 

 up, and get to sea the following evening if possible. August 6th, made 

 Cape Cheerful in a fog about 11 a. m. and at 2 p. m. entered the harbor, 

 being too late to coal and get to sea the same evening. Went into the 

 inner harbor and took on board ships' stores remaining in the warehouse. 

 Found in port the British warship Daphne, having in charge the British 

 sealing schooner Mountain Chief, seized by the Adams for sealing in 

 Bering Sea. No U. S. vessels were in the port, being all out cruising. 

 The Adams was seen steaming to the eastward as the Cor win entered 

 the harbor. There was also in port the schooner Helen, of Seattle, with 

 a party of prospectors on board bound for Golovin Bay, Norton Sound, 

 and the American ship Glory of the Seas discharging coal for the North 

 American Commercial Co., at Dutch Harbor. August 7th we remained at 

 anchor in the inner harbor all day. Made official visits to the Daphne 

 and later to the U. S. S. Mohican, which arrived from a cruise about 

 midday. 



August 8th left the inner harbor at 5 :30 a. m. and steamed to Dutch 

 Harbor and hauled alongside the wharf and filled our bunkers from the 

 coal pile on shore, also filled tanks with fresh water. At 4 p. m. all 

 ready for sea, but on account of strong westerly gale which was blow- 

 ing we did not sail until the following morning. 



August 9th, the wind having moderated, we left the wharf at Dutch 

 Harbor and steamed to sea. At G :30 passed Wislow, steered west, and 

 continued on that course till 4 p. m., when the course was changed to 

 northwest. Seals scant, during the day; towards evening they ap- 

 peared a little more numerous, some asleep in the water and some rest- 

 ing upon a raft of drift kelp. 



