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

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Sailing northward to Sitka

Leaving the harbor with the "Discovery" we set a course N and saw at dawn of the 8th Atio Island. This island, although it is hilly, is incomparably lower than the others. Its northern part is low, and only on the southern end rises a rather high conically shaped mountain. Although it is much lower than Mono-Roa and Mono-Kaa mountains, nevertheless, it can be seen from far away at sea, and, standing completely apart, serves sailors as a good point of orientation.

Passing Atoi Island we were met by the northeast trade winds, which slowed down our sailing considerably until we reached latitude 39°, where, after a considerable storm we got the SW. Here an innumerable quantity of sea swallows wheeled over us, which generally do not venture into the ocean far from shore, whereupon we considered their appearance as a sign of some island. But as the purpose of our voyage did not permit us to waste time on explorations in the ocean, we took advantage of the mentioned wind to reach Sitka as speedily as possible.

On May 8th, we were at latitude 53°. Here a thick fog seperated us from the "Discovery," but this did not prevent us continuing our voyage so that on the 12th we saw Mt. Edgecumbe, which we approached toward evening, but hindered by headwinds, could not enter the Sound until the 14th.

On this day we safely crossed the middle passage and cast anchor directly opposite the fort, which saluted the