A VOYAGE TO 
270 
1778* ing, after coming to anchor, I loft no time in endeavouring: 
March. n j , , <=> 
to unci a commodious harbour where we might ftation our- 
felves during our continuance in the Sound. Accordingly, 
I fent three armed boats, under the command of Mr. King, 
upon this fervice ; and foon after, I went myfelf, in a fmall 
boat, on the fame fearch. I had very little trouble in find¬ 
ing what we wanted. On the North Weft of the arm we 
were now in, and not far from the fhips, I met with a con¬ 
venient fnug cove well fuited to our purpofe. Mr. King 
was equally fuccefsful; for he returned about noon, with 
an account of a ftill better harbour, which he had feen and 
examined, lying on the North Weft fide of the land. But 
as it would have required more time to carry the fiiipb an¬ 
ther, than to the cove where I had been, which was imme¬ 
diately within our reach; this reafon operated to determine 
my choice in favour of the latter fituation. But being ap- 
prehenfive, that we fhould not be able to tranfport our fhips 
to it, and to moor them properly, before night came on, 
I thought it beft to remain where we were till next morn¬ 
ing ; and, that no time might be loft, I employed the re¬ 
mainder of the day to fome ufeful purpofes, ordering the 
fails to be unbent, the top-mafts to be ftruck, and the fore¬ 
man of the Refolution to be unrigged, in order to fix a new' 
bib, one of the old ones being decayed. 
A great many canoes, filled with the natives, were about 
the Blips all day; and a trade commenced betwixt us and 
them, which was carried on with the ftridteft honefty on 
both fides. The articles which they offered to fale were 
fkins of various animals, fuch as bears, wolves, foxes, 
deer, rackoons, polecats, martins ; and, in particular, of 
the fea otters, which are found at the illands Eaft of Kamt- 
fchatka. Befides the fkins in their native fhape, they alfo 
brought 
