INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 397 
was unable to pursue thb explorations further, but our work called us 
in another direction. 
Unalaslca to the Shumagin Islands . — Having crossed the trough and 
reached the normal depth west of it, we ran a line to the island of Una- 
laska, in the vicinity of Kiliuliuk Bay, developed the contour of the 
slope, and located ourselves with reference to the land, which was vis- 
ible at times during the afternoon, when the fog lifted for a moment. 
At 5:30 we sounded in 28 fathoms off the bay above mentioned, then 
stood off shore, sounding at intervals. Trial lines were put over at 
several stations inside of the 100-fathom line, cod ( Gadus morrhua) being 
taken at every station, and halibut ( Hippoglossus vulgaris) at most of 
them — good fisli, bat averaging smaller than on the Atlantic coast. 
The direction of the offshore line was N. 60° E., with depths of 55, 
58, 83, and 174 fathoms, the latter at 20 miles from the starting point 
and 16 miles from Cape Prominence, the nearest land. 
Having reached the 100-fathom line, we developed it for 95 miles in 
a northeasterly direction, to latitude 53° 42' 00" N., longitude 163° 58 / 
00" W., thence 1ST. 22° E. 30 miles, sounding at intervals of 10 milesin 43, 
45, and 45 fathoms, to a point S. 68° E., 34 miles from Seal Cape, pass- 
ing 6 miles inside of a reported bank in 54° 00' 00" N. and 163° 33' 00" 
W. We intended to pass over the position, and supposed we had done 
so until our work was verified by a subsequent landfall. Later sound- 
ings seemed to indicate its location about 18 miles to the northward and 
eastward, where we found 25 fathoms. Trial lines were put over at 
station 1166 in 45 fathoms, fine gray sand, cod and halibut taking the 
bait freely. 
Turning in shore we ran a line N. 75° W. 60 miles to a point S. 57° W., 
8 miles from northwest Cape of Unimak, the northern entrance, to a 
pass of that name. The depth increased to 56 fathoms, 9 miles to the 
eastward of Seal Cape ; 30 fathoms were found off Scotch Cap, and 80 
fathoms at the end of the line. 
We took our departure from the land off Kiliuliuk Bay at 6 p. m. 
July 21, and passed Scotch Cap at 3:43 a. m. on the 23d. As we had 
been enveloped in a dense fog during that time, our intermediate posi- 
tions depended upon dead reckoning, but the greatest error did not 
probably exceed 4 miles. 
Aline was run from the above position S. 70° W. 23 miles, passing 
within 3 miles of the north head of Akun, at which distance it was 
sighted. The fog became lighter as we approached the islands, and 
after passing the head it was comparatively clear. The volcano of Aku- 
tau, 3,332 feet in height, became prominent as we approached the 
island of that name, although the summit was enveloped in fog. The 
whole visible portion of the island was covered with a luxuriant 
growth of grass, which could be seen surrounding great patches of 
snow still remaining in the gorges at an elevation of 1,000 feet or more, 
but there was not a tree of any kind to be seen. Two hauls of the 
