VOYAGE ACROSS THE NORTH SEAS. 
83 
us; these, with the exception of some seen in the Humber, and one in the Sound, 
were all I observed. 
The rest of our voyage up the Baltic was tedious; we were baffled by contrary 
winds and calms ; the latter appear to be common there in the summer months. 
The water, when unruffled by a breeze, has a curdy appearance, which I think 
may be attributed to the animalculse it contains * yet I could form no conclusion 
as to this, being unprovided with a microscope. Three pounds of it have yielded 
389 grains of Salt. The general depth is from 40 to 60 fathoms. After leaving 
Gothland, the east coast of which is sandy with low cliffs, a solitary Curlew 
( Numenius) was the only living being seen, though ships were generally in sight. 
The Seal ( Pkoca vitulina) is an inhabitant of the Baltic; a considerable number 
of them are killed on the shores of the islands Gothland and Aland at the break¬ 
ing up of the frost. The Cod never advances, I believe, beyond Bornholm. The 
Salmon ( Scdmo salar), the Flounder ( Platessa flesus ), Turbot ( Rhombus maxi - 
mus ), Smelt ( Salmo eperlanus , L.), Sturgeon ( Acipenser sturio\ are also found 
there. As we entered the Gulf of Finland, vessels became plentiful; but the 
Wind flying to the east, blew strong, and compelled us to beat up against a short 
twitching sea, under double-reefed topsails. When the breeze subsided, we were 
off the Nargen island, which lies near the shore of Revel in about 25 east. It 
rises abruptly from the water; its cliffs are steep, and their colour deep red ; 
they are probably of Granite. Its top is covered with wood. This island stands 
in a bay, and the adjoining coast is bold and hilly. We saw here several large 
troops of Scaup Ducks (Anas marila) streaming over the water, and others on 
shore. Insects of the Lepidopterous, Dipterous, and Neuropterous orders were 
frequently seen passing across the Gulf in fair weather with the wind, although 
the distance over is rather more than sixty miles; some of them rested on our 
rigging. 
The precipitous and small island of Hogland was the next land we approached 
sufficiently near to create interest. This island is covered with dwarf brush¬ 
wood, and possesses a light-house at its northern extremity; we lay off it for 
two days, with light winds, making hardly any progress. We were visited by 
numbers of insects in the day, the largest of which were Dragon-flies; a couple 
of Seals also came near the ship. The wind in the end came round to the west, 
and we bade adieu to Hogland with a flowing sheet. The gulf rapidly became 
narrower, and the opposite shores were distinctly seen, covered principally with 
Fir and Pine. The land is fiat near the water, but undulates as it advances. 
It has by no means an unpleasing aspect, though it becomes necessary to go on 
shore to see its true characteristics. Passing the Guard ship (from which we 
received an official visit), and part of the Russian fleet at anchor, we dropped up 
to the mole head, and were washed in at one, p. m. It would be foreign to my 
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