638 
APPENDIX. 
as the lead is the best guide, remembering that olF Cape Krusenstern, Point Hope, and Icy 
Cape the water shoals fast, as those places appear to be washed by strong currents. 
In this passage there was not much current between Awatska and St. Lawrence Island : 
it amounted to only thirty-one miles S. 54° W. OIF the island it ran S. S. E. seven-eighths 
per hour on one trial, and on another seven hours afterwards N. E. five-eighths per hour ; but 
between this island and Beering’s Strait it ran to the north-westward at about three quarters 
of a mile an hour. To the northward of the Strait it takes a more northerly direction, and 
near the land runs first to the N. E. and then N. W. 
KOTZEBUE SOUND TO CALIFORNIA. 
October ]4^7i to '1th November, 1826, and October Qih to 2Qth, 1827. 
These passages were made late in the year, when north-westerly winds prevail, and 
consequently at a favourable time for getting to the southward. In both years they oc- 
cupied exactly twenty-three days ; and it is further remarkable, that in each the Aleutian 
Islands were passed on the ninth day after our departure. The route pursued by the Blossom 
was to the westward of King’s Island, and between St. Lawrence Island and the main-land 
of America, and thence within sight of St. Paul’s and St. George’s Islands to the Strait of 
Oonemak. 
To the eastward of King’s Island the soundings are very irregular, varying from nine 
to six fathoms; and as at the season above mentioned the weather appears to be generally 
bad, it is advisable to go to the westward of the island, where the water is deep. Between 
St. Lawrence Island and the continent of America there is a bank with eleven fathoms 
water upon it. If, on approaching it in foggy weather, it be doubtful, from the shoaling of 
the water, whether it be not the island that is the occasion of the decrease of soundings, 
haul over to the American shore, and the water will deepen. To the southward of St. 
Lawrence it is necessary only to mention the islands of St. Paul and St. George, which 
apparently may be safely approached within four or five miles ; but I could not get near 
them in either year to ascertain what dangers lie close off the shore. In the geographical 
table I have given the positions of these islands, which were before considered so uncertain, 
that they were not placed on our charts. 
I should recommend the passage being always made to the eastward of these islands, as 
between them and Oonemak there is a strong current from Bristol Bay, which in 1827 drifted 
the Blossom thirty-five miles to the S. W. in the course of the day. The Strait of Oonemak, 
lying between the islands of Oonemak and Coogalga, appears at present to be the safest 
opening to the Pacific from the Kamschatka Sea. The Aleutian Islands in the autumn 
appear to be enveloped in fog about half-way down, and to have a region of mist lying to 
windward of the Archipelago, which makes it necessary for a ship to be certain of 
her position before she attempts any of the channels, as she might be led down so close 
upon the land in the fog, that she would not have room to rectify a mistake, should she 
unhappily incur any, which is very likely to happen, from the irregularity and velocity of 
the currents about the islands. Under these circumstances I should recommend making the 
