PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
523 
June. 
1827 
Fatsisio, which indeed was so rapid that it obtained the name of Kou- •CHAP. 
rosi-gawa, or Current of the Black Gulf*; nor did their directions ^ 
accord, as the kou-rosi-gawa is said to set from east to west. At par- 
ticular periods, perhaps, these currents may be greater than we found 
them, and may also run to the westward, but they are certainly not con- 
stant. To the southward of Jesso, Captain Broughton experienced a 
set in the opposite direction — that is, from west to east, and so did 
Admiral Krusenstern. With us, as has been mentioned before, the set 
was to the northward. 
June 16th. 1 had spent as much time in low latitudes, fixing the 
positions of all these islands, as was consistent with my orders, and it 
became necessary to make the best of our way to the northward ; 
hoping to be more successful in our search for the land expedition 
than we were the preceding year. At first we stood well to the eastward, 
in order to get nearly into the meridian of Petrapaulski, that we might 
not be inconvenienced by easterly winds, which appear to be prevalent 
in these seas in the summer time; and having attained our object, 
directed the course for that port. 
Our passage between corresponding latitudes was very similar to 
that of the preceding year. Between the parallels of 30° and 35° we 
experienced light and variable winds, and in 39° of latitude took a 
southerly wind, which continued with us nearly all the way. We 
entered the region of fog nearly in the same latitude as before, and did 
not lose it until the day before we made the land, when, as before, it was 
dispersed by strong winds off the coast. The currents were similar to 
those of the preceding year ; but when near the Kurile Islands we were 
impeded by a strong southerly current from the Sea of Okotsk. About 
this time we noticed so material a change in the colour of the sea that 
we were induced to try for soundings, but without gaining the bottom. 
Captain Clerke off the same place observed a similar change, and also 
tried for soundings without success. It is probable that the current 
from the Sea of Okotsk, the shores of which are flat and muddy, may 
bring down a quantity of that substance and occasion the alteration. 
* Description d’un Grouppe d’lles pen connu, par M. Remusat. 
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