[9] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 499 



breeze from west around to south. Sea birds were seen iu abundance, 

 and several humpback whales were noticed.* 



At 4.23 p. m. set the vessel's signal numbers for the Cape Race light- 

 house station, which we were then passing, but probably on account 

 of the exchange of signals between that place and a steam-ship, ours 

 were not understood, and when asked to repeat them we had gone too 

 far to do so. 



Passing Cape Race, we continued on our course for St. John's, en- 

 countering a dense fog at 7.40 p. in., when Renewse Head bore north- 

 northwest 3J miles distant. Towards midnight the weather cleared 

 and we sighted Ferryland Head Light. 



The wind continued moderate during the morning of the 17th, with 

 a fog in the early part and clearing weather later. At 2 p. m. passed 

 Cape Spear and at 3.18 anchored in St. John's Harbor. I called on the 

 American consul shortly after anchoring. 



In the afternoon, Capt. D. Baxter, who had been engaged as pilot 

 for the Newfoundland coast, reported on board and informed me that 

 he would not be able to start on the cruise until the 20th, since he needed 

 two or three days to arrange his private affairs. 



We laid at St. John's until the morning of the 21st, having been de- 

 tained chiefly by bad weather. During our stay here the vessel was 

 visited every day by the citizens of St. John's, who inspected her and 

 expressed much admiration for the schooner, as well as decided appro- 

 bation of the objects of the cruise. Collections of the local fauna were 

 made, consisting of plants, birds, fish, etc. 



At 10 a. m. on the 21st we got under way and beat out of the har- 

 bor, the wind at that time being from the eastward and blowing di- 

 rectly in. After getting clear of the harbor heads we ran up the coast 

 with a stiff breeze from southwest by south. At 8.45 p. m. passed Cape 

 Bonavista and steered for the Funk Islands. At 12,20 p. m. on the 

 next day we ran close to the east end of Funk Island and sent Messrs. 

 Lucas and Palmer on shore in a dory, provided with a full equipment 

 of tent, stores, water, etc., for camping, and tools for digging. The 

 vessel was then headed for a rocky shoal spot 1J miles east southeast 

 from the island, where we anchored at 12.53 p. m. Shortly after 

 anchoring I went on shore to assist the naturalists, being accompanied 

 by Pilot Baxter and two seamen. 



The group called Funk Islands (see plates II and III) consists of three 

 islets, which are about 30 to 35 miles from Cape Freels. Two of these 

 islets are simply low ledges a few feet above sea-level and washed by 

 the waves when there is a heavy sea. These lie a short distance nearly 

 north from the western end of the larger island of the group. The latter 

 is about three-quarters of a mile iu length and perhaps one-third of a 

 mile wide. Its height is put down as 46 feet, but we thought it was 

 higher. It is on the western end of the larger island, where alone 



*See special notes for details concerning appearance of birds and whales, pages [35] 

 L36]. 



