LAUNCHING OF NEW VESSEL 239 



August 8, 1742 

 All the men were preparing cables for launching the ship. After prayer 

 we named the newly constructed vessel the hooker St. Peter and began 

 to launch her. When she had slid down the ways 2 or 3 fathoms the 

 boards of the platform gave way and she stopped, 



August 9, 1742 [ci.il day] 

 With the help of God we got the hooker into the water about 5 o'clock 

 in the afternoon. 



The Log Book of the Hooker "St. Peter" 



August 10, 1742 [astronomical day] i^* 



With God's help I begin this journal on the hooker St. Peter under the 

 command of Lieutenant Waxel. I take as departure Bering's Cross which 

 is in latitude 55° 05' N, variation of the compass i}i rhumb easterly. 



133 From this date until August 23 inclusive, Yushin's journal is ured. Under August 

 10 entry Khitrov's journal gives in addition: "Size of the hooker: length, 36 feet; beam, 

 12 feet; depth, from the deck to the keelson, 5^ feet." 



