The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-04
THE CRUISE OF THE ALBArRoss.
Discoveries That She Made on the Floor
OF Berlng Sea.


kno owSedEe as possible OF the marine
life of the northwestern waters and
especially as to the seals and their habits,
and to determine by careful and extern
slve soundings the general submarine
topography OF Bering sea. The vessel
was admirably equipped for the service
In these two hetds. The commander,
Lieutenant Commander Drake, was es-
peciaily desirouS OF demonstrating the
truth or falsity of his preconceived theory
as to the existence OF great 3dge or
hump in the bottom OF the sea, which
he believed might account for the course
taken by the SEALS In their annual migra-
tion to the north This theory he out
lined In a lecture In San Francisco be-
fore the Albatross went north last spring.
The knowledge gained this season has
exploded 1t, but he mas the satisfaction,
II there Is any in It, Of knowing that
the work was AL done under his direction
and that there can be no question about
its accuracy. The scientific work re-
lating especially to the habits Of the
seals was conducted, as 1t has been for
several years past, by Prof. c. H. Town
send, chief naturalist, who spent part
of the summer upon the Plibilon islands,
and who is probably the best posted man
in the United States upon the sealing
question, having been one OF the most
important witnesses before the Bering
sea tribunal in Paris. Maj. Alexander
who was associated with him in his work,
Is still in the northern waters pursuing
his Investigations further, upon a sealing
schooner. Yesterday in his snug little
once on board tho vessel Commander
Drake gave the Post-Inte'ligencer corre-
spondent an outline of the long cruise
OF 10000 miles and OF the work accom-
pllshed, which in substance Is as fo.-
lows:
The AJbajtross left Port Townsend on
the SOth of May and went direct to Una
laska, the chief coaling station In Ber-
ing sea, about half way out in the Ale
utian peninsula. Calling there, she went
north $40 miles to the Pribiloh Islands
and made a preliminary examination OF
the rookeries, leaving Prof. Townsend
and mis- assistant, Mr.. Miller. there, and
also Mr. F. w. True and Mr.. d. w. Prem
tiss. r.. of the Smithsonian Institution,
who have returned and gone on to Wash
ington City. From the Pribilon Islands,
on the 56th parallel, the first line OF the
soundings was taken, In course
little south of west, to Bering Island,
which is the principal island OF the kom-
mandorski group, lying ITO miles on the
Siberian coast and 17S miles northwest
of Attu island, the extreme westerly
possession Of the United States The
boundary line is established half way
between Attu and Bering islands and
extends northeast to- the middle OF Ber-
ing straits, passing half way between
st. Lawrence island and the southeast
point of Eastern Siberia. The sound
ings referred developed the fact that the
BerlnR sea basin is what might be termed
a vast sunlSen plateau. Ninety miles
out on the elevated Prlbilof plateau there
Ia a drop to 1000 fathoms, deepening to
1000 fathoms in a distance of thirty-one
miles. The depth is practically uniform
nearly all the way across the sea proper
to within twenty miles OF Bering Island,
where there Is a rise in that distance OF
$50 fathoms. This Island lies In latl-
tude IS degrees north and longitude l6S
degrees east. 1t Is. Russion possession
under the control OF a. governor. Inc
population, which has doubled WITHIN
the past two years by importations from
the Kamscatkan coast, subsists by hunt
ing and fishing. There are quite extensive
seal rookeries on the island, which Capt.
Drake examined, taking a ride of thirty
miles in a dog sledge with the governor
on the Fourth OF July. From Bering
island another line Of soundings was run
northeasterly, approaching the eastern
Siberian coast near Cape Oiintorsky, Tor
the purpose OF examining the Kamscat-
ka basin. For the first twenty miles
from Bering island the depth was found
to be 100 fattoms, which increased TO
over 1000 fathoms, this depth being car
ried a distance of 1856 miles. According
to the chart" says Capt. Drake, this
points holld have placed us In the plat
eau off Cape Olinorsky in less than
fifty fathoms, but we encountered q rise
in passing over the southeastern edge
of the plateau, the least depth OF which
was 40 fathoms, which varied to 691
fathoms in a distance Of forty miles. Our
observations and soundings have estab-
hshed the fact that this coast and plat
eau are fifteen miles out In longitude
to the eastward-that Is to say, the maps
Indicate the position OF the coast line
to be fifteen miles further to the east
than It really Is. We continued this line
OF eoundings to a point S15 miles north
easteriy from eBring island, the depth
increasing to 1900 fathoms, with Cape
Oiintorsky bearing west northwest 100
miles Being again in the Bering sea
basin, We changed our line OF soundlngs
to the south and east to return to the
Pribiloff islands, finding all the way the
Tame general character, features and
deoth OF bottom ss In the first line, until
within 145 miles Of st. Paul island, where
a. rise of 1900 fathoms was found In
twenty-eight miles, which brought us to
the Prgbioff plateau inside the 100 fathom
curve. The bottom OF the Berlng sea
basin Is composed principally OF brown,
green and blue mud and ooze, while ap-
preaching the plateau on both sides
fine gray and black sand Is found on the
slopes, mixed with gravel. We found
several new species OF marine life and
one new species OF fish. A careful survey
OF the PribAoff ISLANDS and of the rook-
cries was made, fun report OF which
1 will soon FORWARD to Washington City.
1 am convinced from my observations
that the rookeries are fast being de-
pleted and that the virtual extinction OF
the seals is only a question or a few
years II their annual slaughter Is per-
n1itted to continue as at present The
catch this year WIN not vary much from
that Of last season. I discovered no
Violations Of the law, and believe that
the seaiere are generally inclined to re-
spect the provisions. / am unable to say
at present what our winters work will
be. We go to San Francisco from here
and will await orders there"
The Aibatross has orders from Wash
ington City to remain on the Sound a
few days to make surveys OF the loca-
tions OF fsh traps at Point Roberts,
Lunfmi and San Juan Islands. The or
der Is thousht TO have reference to the
suit Of the Lunml Indians against the
Alaska Packing Association TO prevent
the cannerymen from using traps or dis
eliminating ageinst Indians in salmon
hshing, in violation, as alleged. Of a
treaty made By the Indians with Gov
Stevens. 1t may. however, be only con-
tinuatlon OF the work begun by Prof.
Townsend and MAI. Alexander. Of the nsh
commission last spring.