Other kinds of salmon with deep red flesh are to be found in the
large rivers of the island. We obtained here for a trifle a welcome
change from the preserved provisions of which we had long ago become
quite tired. The Expedition was also presented by the Alaska Company
with a fine fat ox, milk, and various other provisions, and I cannot
sufficiently value the goodwill shown to us not only by the Russian
official, N GREBNITSKI, a zealous and skilful naturalist, but also
by the officials of the Alaska Company and all others living on the
island with whom we came into contact.

[Illustration: ALGA FROM THE SHORE OF BEHRING ISLAND.
_Thalassiophyllum Clathrus_ Post. and Rupr.
One-fourth of the natural size. ]

It was my original intention to sail from Behring Island to
Petiopaulovsk, in order from thence to put a stop to the
undertakings which were possibly in contemplation for our relief.
This however became unnecessary, because a steamer, which was to
start for Petropaulovsk as soon as its cargo was on board, had
anchored by the side of the _Vega_ two days after our arrival. The
steamer belonged to the Alaska Company, was named the _Alexander_,
was commanded by Captain SANDMAN, and was manned almost exclusively
by Swedes, Danes, Fins, and Norwegians[371]. We found on the
_Alexander_ two naturalists, Dr. BENEDIKT DYBOVSKI and Dr. JULIAN
WIEMUT. The former is a Pole exiled to Siberia but now pardoned,
whose masterly zoological works are among the best contributions
which have been made during recent decades to our knowledge of the
natural conditions of Siberia. His researches have hitherto mainly
concerned the Baikal region. Now he wishes to extend them to
Kamchatka, and has therefore voluntarily taken a physician's post at
Petropaulovsk. Science has reason to expect very rich results from
his work and that of his companions in one of the most interesting,
most mis-known, and least known lands of the north.

The _Vega_ left Behring Island on the afternoon of the 19th August, and
anchored at Yokohama on the evening of the 2nd September. The first part
of the passage, while we were still in the cold northerly Polar Sea
current, was favoured by fair winds and moderate heat. The surface
temperature of the sea was from +9 deg. to +10 deg.. On the 25th August in 45 deg.
15' N.L. and 156 deg. E.L. from Greenwich the temperature of the sea-water
began to rise so rapidly that the thermometer in 40 deg. Lat. and 147 deg. 41'
Lon