Friday morning, Sep 9/98, 11:15.
The fog continued throughout the night but towards 5 o’clock it somewhat cleared & we steamed ahead, but only at half speed, & fog blast going at intervals. At 9 o’clock we encountered the density again & had to slow down, & eventually stop, & we were motionless for 2 hours. Now we are going dead slow, perceptible movement is scarcely decernable [sic]. There’s a fog blast just sounded. Many beautiful little shore birds are flying about this morning, & they are so exhausted having evidently lost themselves yesterday & come out to sea instead of landwards, & they rest about the rigging & anywhere.[1] They are easy to catch. One I caught, very like a starling, was quite done out. I took it to the galley where it revived, but soon flew out & over the rail, & had not gone far before it dropped into the sea & would soon drown. The most of them are a pretty little yellow bird, such bright creatures, & are quite a subject of interest as they relieve monotony. We can hear fog blasts now & again, & as we can’t be far off Cape Flattery, on which is a fog blast, expect it is the sound we hear.[2] Fogs are very prevalent hereabouts, we are told, & frequently they lay for many days. In our case the agents in Victoria or Vancouver will be getting anxious as we are now 2 days overdue at Victoria & the mails due in London on 21st can’t be there now for nearly a week later. You note the date [6:68] & make a memo, on the envelope of this letter, of the date which you receive it. The days are now much longer than when in the tropics, but the moon has left us. You’ll have missed my letters during the past 3 or 4 weeks but the cause you will readily understand.
[1] Inserted on facing page: “Birds on rigging”.
[2] Inserted on facing page: “Cape Flattery on which is a fog horn. 2 days over due, Sep 9th & mails due in London 21st.”