18 THE ASIATIC PUE-SEAL ISLANDS. 



degree of accuracy, but not even Makarof in the Vitiaz seems to have been provided 

 with aa apparatus fit to take soundings deeper than 400 fathoms. The soundings 

 which he made in the passage between Kamchatka and the Commander Islands, 

 therefore, only proved it to be deeper than 400 fathoms, but how much we were unable 

 to say. True, there were on the Eussian Hydrographic Department chart No. 1454 

 (Vost. Okean, Bering. Mor.) two definite soundings, viz, 390 fathoms in 53° 41' north 

 latitude and 163° 29' east longitude, but this being station Ko. 109 of the Vitiaz, and 

 therefore in all probability taken from its records, we find upon turning to the latter 

 that bottom was not found at 713 meters, or 390 fathoms. The other sounding on the 

 same chart is 400 fathoms in 54° 45' north latitude and 152° 50' east longitude. By 

 examining the records of the Vitiaz we find no soundings taken by that vessel in thaf 

 latitude, but we find on the other hand that station No. 113 was in 53° 45' north 

 latitude and 162° 50' east longitude, and that a sounding was there taken with the 

 result that bottom was not touched in 732 meters or 400 fathoms. The above figures 

 are too close not to make it almost absolutely certain that by a clerical error the 

 sounding in question was plotted a whole degree too far north and the dash with the 

 dot over left out. 



In the chart of the western portion of Bering Sea, which I had prepared for the 

 first edition of this work (pi. i), the 100-fathom curve around the Commander Islands 

 was drawn for the first time with some pretensions at accuracy. Up to that time it 

 had been asserted in some publications that the Commander Islands " belong*to the 

 Kamchatka system. Copper Island resting just within the 100 fathom curve from the 

 Asiatic coast." The soundings of the Vitiaz had, however, already demonstrated that 

 the sea between the mainland and the islands was deeper than 400 fathoms, and on 

 the map in question the islands were therefore connected with the peninsula of 

 Kamchatka by the 500-fathom curve. I was careful, however, to state that "even 

 that is only conjectural." 



How well taken this reservation was is best shown by the fact that where I had 

 "conjectured" a depth of 500 fathoms, we found an abyss more than 3,000 fathoms 

 deep. Captain Moser was kind enough to accede to my request for a line of soundings 

 between the north end of Bering Island and the mainland of Kamchatka, during our 

 run between Ari Kamen, Bering Island, and Cape Koslof, Kamchatka, August 9-10, 

 1896. Eight soundings were taken, as follows: 41, 2,250, 2,665, 3,117, 2,078, 473, 586 

 and 453 fathoms, as shown on the accompanying map (pi. 87). It will be seen that the 

 drop from the 100-fathom plateau of the islands is as sudden and violent on this side 

 as on the eastern side, necessitating a corresponding alteration of the curves 

 surrounding them. 



While this line of soundings has thus furnished a series of fundamental and 

 highly interesting facts, it has also given rise to a number of tantalizing problems 

 and' questions. Does the sounding of over 3,000 fathoms between Bering Island 

 and Kamchatka simply indicate a deep hole, or is it connected with the Tuscarora 

 soundings to the south'? In the latter case, does an average depth of 3,000 fathoms- 

 or over, extend up to the islands, with one comparatively narrow ridge represented by 

 the Tuscarora soundings between 2,980 and 1,777 fathoms between latitudes 51° and 

 520? Or does only a comparatively narrow channel of 3,000 fathoms and more 

 extend to the northeastward parallel with the coast of Kamchatka? And again is 

 this deep basin between Bering Island and Cape Koslof continued to the northward 



