126 STELLER'S JOURNAL 



each other by a narrow channel. These were taken for the first 

 two Kurile Islands, especially on the statements of and the land- 

 marks indicated by the Kamchatkan natives who were on board 

 the vessel. But as no one would venture to assert it positively, 

 the officers disregarded it recklessly, nor would they listen to 

 those who thought they saw the mainland beyond. And yet four 

 other reasons might be advanced for this, viz.: (i) the many sea 

 otters which now appeared about our ship and never before dur- 

 ing the voyage had come in sight so frequently, while at the 

 Kurile Islands they really are so numerous ;288 (2) the west 

 wind, which we encountered here suddenly, as an indication that 



at 10 A. M., October 29 (both civil and astronomical date) — not on 

 October 30. 



The latitude of "50° and some minutes," which was partly responsible 

 for the fallacious identification of the Semichi Islands as the "first" (i. e. 

 northernmost) two Kurile Islands, is, of course, incorrect. The Semichi 

 Islands lie in 52° 45' N. How this large error, for latitude, came about is 

 not quite clear. The log book for October 29 (Vol. i, p. 202) records a 

 latitude of 52° 31' at noon, two hours after sighting the islands, which, 

 although probably a little short, was much closer to the truth. There is 

 evidence in the other records of the expedition of uncertainty in the de- 

 termination of latitude at this time. The log book records the latitude of 

 50° 50' by observation for noon of October 25 (Vol. i, p. 198), while 

 Khitrov's journal gives 51° 11' as the latitude of the vessel's probably 

 slightly more southerly position four hours earlier (Vol. i, p. 199, foot- 

 note no), which seems to be much nearer the truth. Likewise, Waxel 

 in his report records (Vol. i, p. 276) that, from the later more accurately 

 determined latitude of the landing place of the expedition on Bering 

 Island, it was evident that the ship's reckoning was out by about one 

 degree of latitude when they passed Copper Island on November 4 (see 

 also Vol. I, p. 208, last entry in log book under November 4). In addition 

 to the unrealized effect of currents and tidal rips these errors may pos- 

 sibly legitimately be ascribed to the scurvy-stricken condition of the 

 officers and crew (J). 



288 What Steller says here about the sea otter being so numerous on the 

 Kurile Islands does not conflict wuth his previous statement (p. 31, 

 above). Steller only knew of their occurrence at the first two Kuriles 

 (see also footnote 57, above). (S) 



