KOBBEN ISLAND. 67 



this portion hardly exceeds 120 feet, while the beach, consisting of coarse sand and 

 pebbles, which surrounds it varies between 30 and 120 feet.' 



A rocky reef extends to the northwest, terminated by a large rock, the Sivutchi 

 Kamen, or Sea-liou Bock, about, 10 feet high, a favorite resort of sea lions. A similar 

 reef, but without projecting rocks, marks the southeastern end of the island. 



There is no harbor or convenient anchorage, and in bad weather vessels have 

 to seek shelter under Saghalin, Captain Sandman's mauuscript map indicates 

 "anchorage anywhere to northwest of island in from 10 to 20 fathoms; 13 fathoms, 

 sandy bottom, 1 mile off, center of island SB. i E.; end of South Eeef S. by B. J E.; 

 end of North Eeef and rock ENE. Nearer iu rocky bottom." The Albatross anchored 

 in 9J fathoms of water about seven-eighths of a mile off, center of island about SE. 



On the west side of the island, toward the southwestern end, there is a slight cut 

 in the rock, barely leaving room for the goverument houses, which contain the quarters 

 for the officers and men of the naval guard, as well as their bath and storehouses 

 (pis. 1, 2). A dilapidated frame shanty farther south, on the beach at the base of the 

 rock, serves as lodging for the Aleut workmen (from Bering Island), and a little 

 farther beyond is the company's still more ramshackle salt house, which has to be 

 propped up with sticks to prevent it from falling down (pi. 3). 



The government houses (pis. 1, 2) are substantial and comfortable frame houses, 

 painted a red brown with white trimmings. The officers' quarters consist of an entry 

 hall and two rooms about 12 by 12 feet. The men's house also consists of two rooms — 

 one sleeping room with bunks, and one eating and gun room which also serves as a 

 kitchen. 



There is no fresh water on the island. For this commodity the temporary 

 residents depend upon rain water, which is collected in large iron tanks, and upon a 

 small condenser. 



The rock consists of layers of a coarser conglomerate and a finer- grained sandstone- 

 like rock, all thoroughly weathered and crumbling. The top of the rocky portion 

 (pi. 4) is nearly flat, the sides in many places perpendicular or even overhanging. 



The vegetation is very scant. There is a small grassy area, consisting of Ulymus, 

 at the base of the south end of the rock, as indicated on the map, and a couple of 

 much smaller patches at the iiortheast point on the eastern side. I only saw 8 species 

 of higher plants (August 29 and 31) as follows:^ 



PLANTS OF EOBBEN ISLAND. 



1. Barlarea (?) A single specimen in no condition 



to be identified. I looked in vain for another. 



2. Armaria peploides. 



3. Seneciu pseudo-arnica. 



4. Trimtalis europcea (L. Stejneger Coll. No. 73). 



5. Mertensia maritima. 



6. AtropUx liltoralial (L. Stejneger Coll. No. 77). 



7. Poa annua (L. Stejneger Coll. No. 75). 



8. Elymus molUa. 



' These figures are taken from Shamof's map (pi. 93). Lieutenant Egerman, I. E. N., gives the 

 following dimensions: Length, 1,960 feet; width, about 300 feet; height, 48 feet (Morskoi Sbornik, 

 1884, No 11, Lots. Zam., p. 8). Capt. J. 6. Blair says : " 1,960 feet long by 175 feet wide, and in places 

 46 feet high" (Fur-Seal Arb., in, p. 194). 



2 The species of which I brought home specimens have been kindly identified by Dr. J. N. Kose, 

 Assistant Curator, Division of Botany, U. S. Nat. Mus., and by Professor Lamson-Scribner. 



