54 
the westward and southward. Strong gales are frequent, but 
rarely continue above 24 hours. They never blow quite home 
on the island, but incline upwards at some distance from the 
shore, and striking against the face of the mountain, are beat 
back on the low land i in furious whirlwinds. 
* The sea immediately round the island is fathidpiablts to 
the distance of a mile and upwards. The bottom is every- 
where rocky and covered with a gigantic species of sea-weed 
(Fucus pyrifer), which, after growing from the depth some- 
times of 20 fathoms or more, stretches along the surface of the 
water, and preserves it in some degree smooth and unruffled . 
during even the highest winds. 
“ This is a circumstance of the more importance, as the 
coast abounds in a variety of excellent fish, which will prove 
a valuable source of subsistence should the island come to be 
permanently inhabited. Among these are several species well 
known at the Cape of Good Hope. The Snook (Scomber 
serpens), the Horse-mackarel (Scomber Trachurus), the Roman 
Fish, another species of Scomber, and the Jacobeever (Scorpena 
capensis), The best fish, however, and fortunately the most 
abundant, is a Chetodon, I should think, but which is figured 
by Forster as a New Zealand fish, under the name of Sparus 
Carponemus. ‘To the genus Sparus it has certainly no affinity, 
if the form and disposition of the teeth are of any value in 
forming the character. This fish usually grows to the weight of 
five or six pounds, and is remarkable for this circumstance, that 
when pulled up by the hook it discharges from its vent a large 
quantity of air, that follows it in large bubbles. A large 
species of Perca is sometimes caught in the deep water. 
Among the rocks are found an undescribed species of Calli- 
onymus, and a most beautiful Labrus. I saw one Exocetus 
exiliens that dropped on board a ship while at anchor, and 
which measured 18 inches in length. The only shell-fish I 
observed were a Chiton, a diminutive Cardium, a Patella, and 
two Buccinums. A large Crawyish is found in abundance, and 
of good quality: the Sepia octopoda, and an Echinus, with a 
small land insect, belonging to the old genus Cancer. et 
species of Corallina are common on the rocks. 
