228 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



section througli Behring strait, it was not capable of clearing a 

 channel through the ice of the polar region. The experience of 

 explorers and whalers, was all in favor of the impenetrability of this 

 body of ice. He compared the volumes of the Gulf stream and 

 the Behring strait stream entering the polar basin, and showed that 

 the highest latitude reached, north of Behring strait, was nearly 

 seven degrees lower than by the Spitzbergen and Smith's Sound 

 routes. He denied the finding of Japan or Kamsckatka woods on 

 Spitzbergen, or on Greenland ; and quoted Wrangell to show the 

 direction of the current of the polar waters along the eastern 

 Siberian coast. The Russian American Company and American 

 whalers prove the direction of the current through Behring strait, 

 and he quoted McClintock showing the existence of woods on the 

 western shores of Prince Patrick Island and Bank's Land, to dis- 

 prove the existence of a Wrangell continent to the westward of the 

 latter Islands, 



Prof. Davidson 'said the current charts of the North Pacific 

 Ocean, of recent authorities, were very erroneous, and that his re- 

 port of 18G7, upon the Japan current and its branches, has been 

 verified this year, in part, by the observations of W. H. Ball, Acting 

 Assistant of the U. S. Coast Survey. He also said that Plover 

 island, discovered by Kellett to the southwestward of Herald is- 

 land, was in reality the eastern point of Wrangell land ; the space 

 between this low conical point and the high mountains of Kellett 

 to the westward, Avas occupied by a low, flat region, covered with 

 grass in August and September, 1867. 



Although M. Pavy actually produced no authorities for many of 

 his statements, he would not accept some of the authorities named 

 by Prof. Davidson, who promised to produce them at the next 

 meeting. 



The following paper was read : 



On the Depression of the Colorado Basin. 



BY GEORGE E. GRAY, CHIEF ENGINEER SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. 



Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, in liis report on explorations for a route for the 

 Pacific Railroad, refers to a line from San Gorgonio Pass'to the San Diego and 

 Fort Yuma wagon road. He says : " It was evident the surface was below the 

 level of the sea. and that thi'v were (raveling in the bed of what was once either 

 a lake or the head of the Gulf of California. A distinct water-line was visible 



