INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
413 
Middleton Island . — Middleton Island was sighted at 2:08 p. m., bear- 
ing S. 88° E. I determined to locate it if our clear weather continued 
through the following day. With this object in view we ran 9 miles 
N. 80° E., and sounded in 43 fathoms ; N. 57° E., 5 miles, in 11 fathoms, 
and then anchored about a mile to the northward, in 12 fathoms, near 
the point indicated on the Coast Survey chart, the north end of the 
island bearing N. 52° E., and the south end S. 27° W. We were off 
the outer limit of kelp, which seemed to extend the whole length of the 
island, from £ mile to 1 J miles from the beach. We were on the weather 
shore, where a moderate NW. wind and strong tide caused a heavy 
surf, so we deferred landing until the following morning. The rock 
mentioned in the Alaska Coast Pilot as lying 3 miles SW. (magnetic) 
from the north point of the island, and MW. (magnetic) from the 
anchorage, was not seen, and if it exists is below the surface, where 
rocks may be encountered almost anywhere around this desolate island. 
The swell was so heavy that no soundings were made except in the im- 
mediate vicinity of the anchorage. Observations of the tides during 
the night showed a velocity of 2 to 3 knots per hour, the flood setting 
to the northward and eastward and the ebb in the opposite direction. 
August 26 commenced with a moderate breeze from the SW., veering 
to NW., NE., and ESE., with clear weather, except for 2 hours in the 
early morning. The surf was still too heavy for landing, and being 
anxious to get observations on shore, as well as to give the collectors 
an opportunity to examine the region, we got under way and steamed 
to the southern end of the island. We were about to anchor in 10 fath- 
oms, when the keel came in contact with a rock, but we backed off' 
without damage, and anchored in 15 fathoms, the northern end of the 
island bearing N. £ E. (magnetic), and the southern extremity NE. f N. 
(magnetic). 
A party of collectors, the navigator, and myself landed, and while 
the former were searching the island for specimens, the following obser- 
vations were taken : Two sets of equal altitude of the sun for longitude, 
one meridian altitude and six ex-meridian altitudes of the sun for lati- 
tude, the artificial horizon being used. They were made under favorable 
conditions and are reliable. The observation spot is one cable to the 
westward of the SE. extremity of the island, and is marked by a pile of 
stones on the beach above high water, the mean of all the sights placing 
it in latitude 59° 23 x 36.7 // N. and longitude 146° 19' 33.4" W. 
Middleton Island is between 7 and 8 miles in length, N. 22° E. and 
S. 22° W., with reefs extending 2 miles or more north and east of it 
and between 3 and 4 miles off the southern end. The anchorage is off 
the west side, and an approaching vessel should keep well outside the 
kelp, as rocks may exist anywhere near the island, which is a terminal 
moraine, composed of mud, clay, gravel, and huge boulders, scattered 
about over the surface, on the beach and on ledges above and below 
the water. The southern end has perpendicular cliffs of mud and clay 
