The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-04-14

discussing the object OF the voyage.
1t is eight bells in the morning, Alert
Bay is abeam. and our attention is drawn
to an Indian settlement situated close to
the waters edge This settlement con-
sists of some thirty huts. whose inmates
have seemingly changed but little since
the whites first visited them. They are
exceedingly cunning and quick to take
every advantage in trade. Undoubtedly
those from whom they learned the art
were experts. Some years ago salmon
cannery was erected in their midst, but
the native SONS and daughters of this par
ticular locality do not care to degrade
themselves by manual labor. consequent
" the canneIymen receive but little as
sistance from this swarthy and sordid
tribe
A pleasant days sail through Queen
Charlotte Sound brings us at sunset OF
Guliano and Hope Islands: and at dark
Triangle Island is abeam.
We are now about to leave behind the
pleasant sailing which we have SO enjoyed
for a number OF days and take a plunge
into foo banks and head seas oi the North
Pacific. \ W. II :. coulse tmag.) is
shaped which will take us about 80 miles
south OF Cape st. James. This cape is
situated on the most southern island of
the Queen Charlotte group.
As the suns fallow light sinks low on
the horizon it indicates that heavy fog is
not far off. BY midnight the rancous
blowing of the steam whistle tells Us that
we are surrounded by what most every
person dislikes - fog. Although there
probably is not a vessel within hundred
or more miles of us. this section of the
ocean not being much travelled, as nearly
all vessels bound for Alaska either pass
several hundred miles further from the
coast or through the inland passage, the
disagreeable footing was kept up all
through the night and the following day
Foggy weather is dreaded by everybody;
even old sailors who have spent life
llllIt vi tilt ottdu IIliCII prefer Sttlt VI
wind to a week OF foggy weather The
continual drip, drip OF moisture from the
/ shrouds sails and rigging; the wet. Slip
perry decks the gloomy appearance of
everything and everybody on board. all
contribute their share of disagreeabe-
ness. and in short time life becomes al
| I,l1rfin,, aSAn..iaf1 ,- ha,-
every reason to believe that at the end of
a week OF more there will be little change
Such. however. was not ollI fate. for on the
second day we We're oladdened by behold
ing the noon-day sun scattering every
cloud from the sky.
one OF our day amusements was to.
watch sea-gulls and other species OF
ocean birds. The shaking of the mess
and table cloths is the signal for these
feathery individuals to engage in a war
like struggle for choice bits of meat. fish.
bread. etc. They are ever on the alert,
and the slightest movement about decks
they watch with keen interest 1t is re-
marllable how quickly they learn to know
the cooks and walters OF ship; they soon
realize that the movements of these peo-
pie should be closely studied. for they
| find it much easier to pick up living
from the otfal Of ship than to search
the surface OF the ocean for small fish.
crustacea and such things as may chance
to fall into their clutches
This species OF gull is seldom found
more than POO miles from the coast. and
the second day out or small perepterous
friends suddenly forsools us: but we were
not long without company, No sooner
had they gone than a long- pennate tribe
the black all.Atress-slllrounde us.
and acted as II they were in duty bound
to pilot us t" their hylelborean home
These scavensels are even more keen OF
observation than their inshnre neighborS.
They viii follow a ship for days and even
weeks. and have been known to remain
by ship while on a passage from san
Francisco to China. They are not SO large
AS the white albatros> found off Cape
Horn. and the Cape Of Good Hope. but
they are equally is swift on the wing 1t
is indeed an interesting amusement to
watch their movements as they circle
about. They seldom fly in straight
course. but circle round and round, some
times in large and then again in small cir
cles, frequently making short tacks like q
cat boat beating up narrow channel.
Their favorite position in flying seems to
be partly on their SIDE with one wing in
the air at sharp angle, and the tip of
the other close to the surface of the wa
ter: now up, now down. Just enough to
clear the waves. 1t is remarkable how |
near their wings will scan the seas with
out touching them: their bodies seem to
rise in perfect time to the unCiulating mo-
ton of each wave. 1t is also astonisll- |
ing how they can cross and recross each |
other path without coming in contact.
To an observer they appear to be in one
complete and ineXtricable tangle, cutting,
steering and performing all sorts Of gyra- /
tory feats, seemingly for the amusement |