NO. 1 GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT AND STATION RECORDS 7 



Harbor. These harbors are separated by a shoal having not more than 

 two fathoms of water. Still farther south, behind Pta. Escoces, lies Port 

 Escoces, site of an attempted colonization by the Scotch in 1699, whence 

 the name, "Caledonia Bay." 



Caledonia Bay's most remarkable topographic feature is the narrow- 

 ness and straightness of the principal channel. A line drawn 320° true 

 through the anchorage in Caledonia Harbor touches neither the main- 

 land nor the fringe of outlying islands, throughout the 12-mile length of 

 the bay, although the distance between these at one point (opposite Mt. 

 Vernon) is only 0.6 mile and is never more than 1.5 miles. 



The entrance to Caledonia Harbor is southwest of Isla de Oro and 

 of the outer rock of Isla Piedra, and northwest of the Reventazones 

 Breakers, a series of 3 shoals halfway between Isla de Oro and Pta. 

 Escoces. The channel shoals from 15 fathoms off Outer Rock to 10 

 fathoms at the anchorage. Vessels of shallow draft may proceed another 

 two miles up the bay in a northwesterly direction, keeping Cyane Island, 

 Chimere Island, and Scorpion Cay on the right, to anchor near the 

 Indian village. At this point the bay shoals to 2 fathoms, then deepens 

 toward Sasardi Harbor, which is best approached from the opposite 

 direction. The entire bay is navigable to the Indian sailing canoes, dozens 

 of which constantly ply the bay in the stiff afternoon breezes. 



The mainland shore is covered with dense tropical growth. Coconut 

 palms grow on the beaches and on many of the cays. Indian plantations, 

 located a mile or more inland, are reached by trail or by canoe up one of 

 the several streams which empty into the bay. These streams are respon- 

 sible for the fine green mud covering the bottom of the bay and for the 

 fact that bottom cannot be seen in depths greater than a fathom or two. 

 The San Bias Indian village is located on one of the three larger islands 

 separating Caledonia Harbor from Sasardi Harbor. These islands would 

 be awash if the water in the bay were to rise another foot or two. Spring 

 rise and fall of tide is only 1.4 feet, neaps 0.4, in contrast to a spring 

 range of 16.2 feet at Balboa, on the Pacific coast of Panama. 



There are two annual seasons, wet and dry, the dry season lasting 

 from January to April. At the time of the second visit of the Velero III 

 in late April the temperature was almost constant night and day, varying 

 from 78° F. at 2 A.M. to 84° F. at 2 P.M., although a temperature of 

 90° F. was recorded on an exceptionally hot afternoon. Humidity on this 

 occasion approached saturation, and storm clouds were gathering over the 

 2,000-foot mountains located little more than two miles to the interior. 

 Light northerly and northwesterly winds were recorded. 



