, 1890-09-18
STEAMER ALBATR0SS.
Return of the Fish Commits
sion Vessel.
FOUR MONTHS IN THE NORTH
Scientific Exploring Expedition
From San Francisco to the
Alaskan Shores.

The United States fish commits
sloners' steamer Albatross has ar
rived from the North, says the Port
Townsend Leader. She left San
Francisco May 8, for the purpose OF
examining the extent and value of
the Goldfish grounds on the banks of
Bristol bay.
Captain Tanner states that he
found the banks of even greater
richness than was ticipated. The
grounds on the mort side of the
Alaskan peninsula, as we'll as those
on the Uminak island, are also OF
great richness, being filled with cod
fish and hallbut. On the
north shore of Ounalaska
island and In the vicinity
of Cape Newenham, the fish are
salmon of the best varieties. The
Albatross visited the Ruskovim
river for the purpose of landing
United States Census Supervisor
Ivan Petron. The latter had been
deserted by his native crew and was
In danger of becoming lost when
picked up. Petroff' is now in the
vicinity of Kodak. The Albatross
took soundings all the way down.
She will remain here four or five
days, and, after loading coal at De-
parture bay. she will sound along
the Washington coast and north for
two weeks. She will then go to San
Francisco.
Sealing, says Captain Tanner, was
during tue past season very much
of u failure. He accounts for this by
the great number of poachers who
have been in Bchrlng sea since the
season opened. All of them had
good catches. The Albntross en-
countered seal pirates several times,
but of course they were not molested.
Captain Tanner says that the Use Of
rifles in the rookeries will If con-
tinued, result in n total extinction
of fur-bearing animals. Sea offers,
which were very plentiful few
years ago, are now rarity. The
native hunters never use anything
but spears. White men how
ever, go ashore, pitch tent and
build fires. This frightens the
animals, who are rapidly leaving
Behring sea for the shores along
the Pacific ocean. The cutter Rush
Is at Ounalaska waiting orders from
the department, which are cX pected
by the Corwin. Captain Tanner
does not know what the orders OF
the Bear and Rush have been. He
thinks, however, that they were in
atr atpntlu kann r.nanIanrc -
out of the three-mile limit, as all OF
them have taken particular pains
not to Infringe inside this reserva-
ton. The Bear was IN the Arctic
ocean when the Albatross left Ouna-
laska. She expects To be relieved
In the next six weeks, aud will
probably be in San Francisco by
October Is.
The Albatross brought additional
information of the murder, by n
man known as Clarke, of the
Alaska Commercial Company's
agent at Unga. The crime was the
result ofan quarrel over an account.
The killing was done in n most
cold-blooded anG deliberate
manner, Clark meeting his
victim as the latter was
going toward his cabin. He told
him he was going to shoot him, and
before the unlucky agent could de-
fend himself he was riddled with
bvckshot. Clarke escaped into
the brush. The United States
commissioner at Ounalasku
will go to the scene on
the Rush and try to capture
Clarke, but there Is little hope that
the latter will be bro:lght 10 Justice,
as the schooner Car was at Unga
ready to sail, when he killed his
victim, and 1t is believed that the
murderer boarded her, and is by
this time safe. The Car was bound
for San Francisco. Captain Tanner
of the Albatross, brought down q
description of the murderer, which
he has forwarded to United States
! Consul Myers, Victoria, In the hope
that the murderer will there be ap-
pretended.
The Alaska Commercial Company
Is operating rich gold placers at Un
ga. Fifteen thousand dollars has
already been spent in developing
the claim. Coal mines are also be-
ing worked extensively. The
Albatross coaled there before her de.
/ parture. The officers suy the coal Is
of superior quality.
The North American Trading
, Company will lose several hundred
thousand dollars on its sealing sea.
son. The catch has only been about
1000 The poachers captured more
than twice that number.
Mount Bogoslov, the Albatross
officers state, is still in state %
, eruption. Mounts Mastushim, As.
tutem and Shishaldin, are smoking.
The officers of the United States
Fish Commissioner steamer Alba
tross are: Lieutenant-Comma der
u. l.. Tanner, commanding; Lieu
tenant &. q. Calkins, executive of
, fcer and navigator; Ensign M
johnson, Ensign II. w. Eberle, En-
sign c. NJ. Mccormick, Ensign w
w. Gilmer; Passed Assistant Sur
geon j. f.. Gardner, Passed Assist
ant Paymaster &. ;. Williams
Passed Assistant Engineer Q. II
Rocker. Scientific ccorps-Professol
G. III. Gilbert, assistant In charge
c. ii. Townsend, assistant natural
ist; A. B. Alexander, fishery expert
n. B. Miller, assistant; II. Z. Fas
sett, clerk to commanding officer.
IMMENSE HOP CROP.
The Yteld In yya.hinrtou Eatima tee