APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OP GREAT BRITAIN. 427 



also acceded, as is well known. Conseqnently, here also Behring's 

 Sea appears as part of the Pacific Ocean. 

 Hoping that these remarks will be sufficient for you, I remain, &c,, 



(Signed) Prof. Dr. Alex. Supan, 



Editor of Petermann'a Communications. 

 Mr. Robert Rayner, 



Salem, Massachusetts. 



In reply to a request sent by Dr. George M. Daw- 

 92 son to Professor Supan for a copy of tlie above letter, 

 as originally written in German, tliat gentleman has 

 been so kind as to write further, as follows : 



[Translation.] 



Justus Perthes' Geographical Institute, 



Gotha, July 15, ISO.?. 

 Most Honoured Sir: Unfortunately, I do not possess a copy of 

 my letter to Mr. Rayner, but the translation appears to me to be, on 

 the whole, correct. Rayner asked mo what was my opinion on the 

 question from a geographical point of view, and my reply falls under 

 two heads: 



1. The present geographers collectively, so far as I know, consider 

 Behring Sea as part of the Pacilic Ocean, and from whatever point of 

 view the question is considered the conclusion always arrived at is 

 that Behring Sea is an annex of the Pacilic. 



2. This view, moreover, also generally prevailed as early as 1824, as 

 the two earliest attempts at classiiication agree in it. What view was 

 held by the Governments of the day is, however, questionable, as there 

 are enough instances to show that Governments trouble themselves 

 but little with science. 



With the highest consideration, I remain, &G. 



(Signed) Alex. Supan. 



An examination of all the Maps upon which the sea now mtes on vari- 

 called Behring Sea ajipenrs prominently, between about "^'^^^jj^^^'^^ij^g^j^™; 

 1815 and 1825 (both inclusive), which could be found in with the question 

 the Map Department of the British Museum Library, has°anj"?^®apaJ||^ 

 been made; also of some which appear in books of travel, ocean," "Behr- 

 &c., in the Printed Book Department. A few Maps found '"^ ^^^'" **'• 

 elsewhere have also been included. 



For dates previous to 1815, and subsequent to 1825, a 

 selection only of the more important Maps has been con- 

 sulted. Such selection was made by reference to the Cata- 

 logue titles of the Maps, and the results of the examination 

 of each such Map are here noted, irrespective of the bear- 

 ing which these may be supposed to have on the question 

 at issue. The list as a whole therefore differs from that 

 given as an Appendix to Mr. Blaine's despatch of the ITtli 

 December, 1890 (which was compiled for the purpose of 

 making out a speciticd contention), and, so far as it goes, 

 may be acceped as a general indication of the best usage 

 in vogue at and about the time of the Convention of 1824 

 and 1825. The names i)rinted in italics are in each case 

 exact transcripts of those appearing on the Map. 



No Maps of a date earlier than that of the publication of 

 Cook's third voyage, in 1784, have been included in the list; 

 but all Maps relating to Cook's voyage, and which include 

 the area of Behring Sea, have been sought for, as Mr. 

 Blaine, in his despatch above cited, appears to place special 

 importance on one of them. This particular Maj), pub- 



