108 ANTHROPOLOGICAL, SURVEY IN ALASKA [eth. ann. 46 



they are as thick as at the first attempt in this same region. Heavy 

 bumps and strains follow one another and the boat must often go 

 very slow or even stop altogether. Sometimes the heavj' ship just 

 staggers from the impact, but the floes are generally broken by the 

 shock and swirl away out of our way, or scraping the ship pass 

 to the rear. All aboard show new interest and energy. The forced 

 stops and inaction were dulling even to the crew. 



File a wireless to be sent from Barrow. It will reach Washington 

 to-morrow after we shall have stalled on the return journey. 



Two dogs on board tight fiercely. An officer, the owner of one, 

 trying to separate them is bitten by his own through a finger. 



A marine, in swinging the heavy lead with which they are con- 

 stantly sounding the depth, gets the cord caught about his hand 

 and suffers a bad sprain with fracture. 



The captain's little black cat, Peter, helps to entertain us by his 

 antics. No wonder sailors in their often monotonous existence like 

 all sorts of mascots. 



Friday, August C. Of course our dates got mixed, and more than 

 one has to consult the calendar and count. The Bern- had to turn 

 back once more last night; ice too heavy. Anchored, however, not 

 far to south. This morning very cloudy, rainy, chilly, but wind 

 from near to east, and so from about 6 a. m. we are once more labori- 

 ously on our way. Now and then a bump, heave, stagger, then again 

 the screw resumes its cheerful song. We are passing through the 

 most dangerous part of all the coast here where many vessels have 

 been lost, sometimes whole small fleets of whalers. But very few 

 come here now — we have seen but one since leaving Kotzebue. They 

 call this stretch " the boat graveyard."' 



Saturday, August 7. Stalled, about 30 miles from Barrow. An- 

 chored in the protection of a great grounded flat, in a clear pond of 

 water, with ice all around it, but especially seaward, where the pack 

 seems solid. Some open water reported beyond it. but wind (wild) 

 keeps from the wrong quarter and the captain will make no further 

 attempt until conditions change. Of course it is cloudy again and 

 has rained some during the night and morning, but the temperature 

 is somewhat higher, so that one does not need an overcoat and 

 gloves, although the officers wear their sheep-lined short coats which 

 are nice and warm. 



After noon asked the captain for the skin whaleboat to explore 

 the shore. The latter is nearly a mile distant and shows about 60 

 feet high dirt bluffs. Got the boat and went with the boatswain, 

 Berg, a young "hand," Weenie, and the movie man, La Voy. 

 Rowed with La Voy. Had a wholesome two and a half hours 

 exploring. Found a little stream, with traces of native deer camp 



