29G ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



topographers, meteorological observers, etc., have been at- 

 tached to the several parties. 



The fact that this Survey is so far advanced in the im- 

 provement of its methods, and in the use of instruments spe- 

 cially fitted for mountain geodetic work, should appear as a 

 gratification to all, since each and every person is or ought 

 to be interested in the acquisition of exact geographical in- 

 formation ; and that the government shall from time to time 

 in so satisfactory a manner advance to a state of perfection 

 the geographical works inaugurated under its charge, is evi- 

 dence in the direction of the establishment of a great sur- 

 vey or surveys similar in plan, method, and execution, and 

 perhaps more complete and original in many of their details 

 than those so long prosecuted with so much profit and satis- 

 faction by the great governments abroad. 



One of the parties engaged in the Southern Sierras about 

 the heads of Kind's and Kern Rivers were fortunate in as- 

 cending probably the highest measured altitude within the 

 boundary of the United States, and determining its exact 

 latitude, longitude, and altitude. This peak, known as Fish- 

 erman's Peak, had been ascended in 1872 by a party en- 

 gaged in the pleasure of trout-fishing upon Kern River, and 

 was by them discovered to be at least three hundred feet 

 higher than any of the other prominent peaks, one of which 

 had been named Mount Whitney by Clarence King, of the 

 40th parallel survey, and it is now determined to be approx- 

 imately 14,800 feet in height. This peak was also ascend- 

 ed, subsequent to its being named Fisherman's Peak, by 

 Mr. Clarence King, and his determination as to altitude, 

 when made, should be a check upon the determination by 

 parties of this season. A full description of this great mon- 

 ument of nature, something most difficult to be made, will 

 be an individual evidence of one of the many discoveries 

 made by the parties of this season. 



Bases were measured at Los Angeles and Caliente, Cali- 

 fornia. At the former place connection was made with the 

 base of the United States Coast Survey, measured by the 

 then Captain, now Brevet Major-general E. O. C. Ord, U. S. 

 Army, and practically a connection was had with the geo- 

 detic stations of the United States Coast Survey, between lat- 

 itudes approximately 34 and 35 north, and a complete sys- 



