Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 69.djvu/489

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Commander Islands under more favorable conditions. Dr. Stejneger of the commission obtained some excellent photographs. The senior writer, still later in the same season, passed both islands while on the British gunboat, Satellite, on the way from the Russian Islands to Unalaska.

At that time Old Bogoslof, known to the sealers as Castle Island, from its appearance, was cold and dead. It showed in the fog a sheer cliff or hill of ashes about 300 or 400 feet in height, seeming much higher in the uncertain light. It was apparently the home of countless sea birds and a small herd of the gray sea lions (Eumetopias stelleri) was hauled out upon one of its slopes.

About half a mile to the northwest lay the islet of New Bogoslof, of about twice the height of the other and considerably greater area. This island was locally known as Fire Island, having but recently ceased to steam and smoke. There was in 1896 no evidence of activity in it, but the water was said to be still warm in the crevices of the rocks. The name Grewingk, in honor of the Russian geographer who compiled an early account of Old Bogoslof, has been given to this island by Mr. Dall.

Both islands were surrounded with deep water. In fact the space occupied by the second island had formerly been safely traversed by vessels. Dredge hauls by the Albatross about the islands resulted in the taking of a number of deep sea forms of fishes, among them three 'grenadiers' (Albatrossia pectoralis, Bogoslovias clarki, and Macrourus cinereus). These were obtained at a depth of 664 fathoms or 3,984 feet.