Three Accounts of the Vasil'ev-Shismarev Expedition of 1819-1822

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11th he arrived at Goodnews Bay, and collected reliable information from local inhabitants that along the whole American shore northward, so far as is known to them, lived one nation. The report by those who were in these places with the land expedition in the years 1818 and 1819 undertaken by the [Russian-] American company in Kadiak [Kodiak], that to the north of the Kuskokvin [Kuskokwim] River on the mainland coast lived some European people, proved to be incorrect.⁸

On July 13th, Lieut. Avinov came from Goodnews Bay, and extending a course northward, found shallow banks in many places, which in his opinion were dry at low water. In Goodnews Bay he noticed an approximate 13-foot tidal rise of water.

Captain Vailev says, "Lieuten. Avinov found sailing near the banks dangerous since the boat drew four feet (loaded), and with cross winds and light seas could not hold in the wind. The bottom was unsuited for anchoring in the open sea. In addition, the crew started to show signs of scurvy from continuing wet weather and crowding." For these reasons, he decided to sail to Kamchatka, and arrived at the port of Petropavlovsk August 19.

Shishmarev's Voyage, 1821

Captain-Lieutenant Shishmarev, on June [July] 27th, directed his way from Unalashka Island to Transfiguration Island, which was discovered in 1766 by Lieut. Sind, and not finding it, concluded, "If Transfiguration Island exists at all, it is not near that place where it is indicated on the maps."