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that shot does not penetrate it. They constitute the main
part of the trade of the Aleuts who are settled on [St.]
George Island. They are caught with nets stretched opposite
their nests in rocky cliffs facing the sea. The eggs and the
meat are used for food. It is very tasty when roasted without
the skin; with it, it retains a very unpleasant fishy flavor.

At dawn of the 20th, we saw the tall bare cliffs of the
island and soon approached it, but as the wind was rather
strong, we could not carry out our intention of going ashore,
and only checking our chronometers with the longitude of the
island, we continued our trip and held for St. Lawrence Island
in order to survey it as much as possible.

Having light changeable breezes, we slowly moved ahead.
The weather was clear, which is a rarity in this sea. Its
inhabitants, the whales, played on the surface, and we saw
them by the several thousands. They jumped out of the water,
and falling with the whole body, caused a vascillation on the
surface like a wake caused by a paddle steamer. Spurting from
the nostrils whole clouds of water spray, they imparted an
unbearable stench to the air. The local whale has a sharp
snout and is much smaller than the sperm whale.

St. Lawrence Island

On the 23rd we had the misfortune of losing our cook from
a stroke. Hoping to reach St. Lawrence Island the next day,
the captain ordered us not to throw the body into the sea,