UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 765 



ered with snow ; saw high mountains; saw separate mountains; saw mountains close to the sea." 

 Chaplin says not a word about Oliutorskoi Bay, in which they sailed for 24 hours.] 



July 22. — Fresh winds and hazy weather. The course lay along the laud about 15 miles 

 from the high rocky mountains. One hundred miles was the day's run, and the latitude was 

 observed to be 60° 16', the variation 16 c 56' easterly. The gain in latitude was computed to be 14 

 miles. 



July 23. — Moderate winds and hazy weather. The course lay along the shore at a distance of 

 about 20 miles. At sunrise the variation was 19° 37' E. ; threo hours later 25° 24' E. The course 

 was NE. by N. | N. (true) until 11a. m., when the wind died away. The whole shore along which 

 they sailed was bordered by high mountains. One of them, which still retained snow in several 

 places, was named Pestrovidnoi (Harlequin) Mountain. Forty-eight miles were made good and the 

 latitude observed to be 61° 3'. 



July 24. — At noon the water was warm and pleasant; the vessel becalmed off the coast. In 

 the evening the wiud strengthened and blew in gusts from the mountains. 



July 25. — After noon rain with a strong breeze, which lessened toward evening and was fol- 

 lowed by a heavy sea. To the north they saw a prominent cape, which projected from the high 

 range of mountains. The latitude by observation was 61° 32', which agreed well with the ship's 

 reckoning. The variation was 24° 00' E. 



July 26. — Wind light, with clear weather. The vessel was coasting along parallel with the 

 shore under all sail, at a distance of about tweuty miles. In the evening they saw a bay lying to 

 the NW. by N. [supposed by Bergh to be the estuary of the Khatirka Eiver], Eighty miles were 

 made good on this day, aud the variations of the compass were determined on two occasions as 

 21° 05' and 21° 10' easterly, respectively. 



July 27, 1728. — Light changeable winds and bright sunshine. A cape was passed at a distance 

 of 3 miles, the general trend of the coast parallel to the vessel's course being distant about 15 

 miles. In this vicinity a river appears to enter the sea. Near the cape [St. Thaddeus] many whales, 

 seals, walrus, and different birds were seen. Soundings were had hereabouts in 70 to 87 fathoms. 

 During the calm weather many eatable fish were caught, of the salmon family. 



July 28. — Light winds and rain. A current was observed to the SE. by S. of a knot an hour. 

 Porpoises, whales, sea lions, walrus, and birds were abundant. Under all sail 30 miles N. by W. 

 were made. At noon the shore was distant about 15 miles, and high craggy mountains were 

 observed close to the sea. 



July 29. — Variable winds and overcast foggy weather. The land which had hitherto been 

 bordered by high mountains now appeared to be less elevated. Soundiugs were had in 12 fathoms, 

 fine sand. Thirty-four miles were made good to the NW. by N. this day. At midnight Captain 

 Bering ordered the vessel laid to uutil daybreak, when she proceeded along the land at a distance 

 of a mile and a half, the depth being 10£ fathoms. 



July. 30. — Overcast weather and changeable wind. At 5 p. m. raining; the shore being dis- 

 tant a mile and a half the vessel anchored in 12 fathoms, and Chaplin was sent to find a watering 

 place near which sheltered anchorage could be had. On reaching tho shore he found neither a 

 watering place nor a safe anchorage, except perhaps at flood tide. The bay could be ascended 

 only with difficulty, as the shoals were not visible. On Chaplin's return they weighed anchor 

 and stood along the shore in about 14 fathoms water. 



July 31, 1728. — The whole day foggy aud overcast. The shore to the NW. and NE. was 

 occasionally visible. The vessel made 85 miles in a NE. direction. The depth of the water con- 

 tinued to be from 10 to 13 fathoms. About noon they observed that the water began to be dis- 

 colored aud changed its appearance, which was explained by the appearance, everywhere to the 

 north, of laud which was very near by. 



August 1, 1728. — Dark, foggy weather, with rain, the wind gradually rising. As they were 

 sailing only 3 miles from the high and rocky coast Bering made all sail to the S. and SW. 

 to make an offing. Against the current the sails- made nothing remarkable. At 2 in the 

 morning tacked ship and carried away the iron traveler to which the boom tackle was made fast. 

 In the morning they calculated that they were 16 miles off shore, toward which they stood in 



