170 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
The Sandwich Islands had been discovered on January 
18th, 1778, and on August 4th the Resolution and Dis- 
covery anchored off Sledge Island in 64 0 30' N. The 
westernmost extremity of the American continent in 
Bering Strait, 65 0 45' N., received the name of Prince 
of Wales Cape. Captain Cook then stood over to the 
Asiatic side, and landed to investigate the Tchuktches, 
of which tribe he gives an interesting account. Con- 
tinuing his exploring work he crossed Bering Strait, and 
proceeded along the American coast, naming a cape 
after another Arctic explorer, Lord Mulgrave. On the 
18th August the two ships were close to the edge of a very 
heavy pack which was drifting towards the coast. The 
furthest point seen was very low and much encumbered 
with ice. Captain Cook gave it the name of Icy Cape, in 
lat. 70 0 29' N., long. 161 0 42' W. . This was the furthest 
point reached on the American side. 
Captain Cook found himself in a narrow lane in shoal 
water with the ice coming down upon the ships. He plied 
to the westward, making short boards between the ice 
and the shore. On the 19th the ships were among loose 
pieces, and were brought to at the edge of a close pack. 
There were immense herds of walrus on the ice, which 
afforded them a welcome change of diet from the salt 
beef. Much attention was given to soundings and to 
the force and direction of the currents. The sea in 
Bering Strait is shallow, and the strait exercises no 
influence on the general direction of the movement of 
the water. The principal current in the strait is tidal 
and intermittent, flowing north with the flood and south 
with the ebb. 
From the 21st to the 29th of August the exploring 
ships were sailing along the coast of Asia, which was low, 
with elevated land behind. The furthest point was in 
lat. 65 0 56' N., long. 179 0 it' W. ? and received the name 
of Cape North. The thick weather made it prudent to 
return. The greatest depth north of Bering Strait was 
30 fathoms, the current slight. Passing through Bering 
Strait on a southerly course, the distance across between 
Tchuktchi-nos and Prince of Wales Cape was found to 
be 13 leagues. The ships arrived at a large bay on the 
American side, which received the name of Norton Sound, 
