NO. 1 GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT AND STATION RECORDS 17 



because of its extreme lowness, particularly at the western end. At no 

 point does it rise above 100 feet in elevation. The south shore, between 

 Arenas Point at the western end of the island and Oriental Point at the 

 eastern, is almost straight and has but one named locality. El Carnero, 

 a shallow sound enclosed by several low islets. The east shore, between 

 Oriental and Delgada points, is free from outlying barriers. The north, 

 and particularly northwest, shore has several off-lying cays or islets: 

 Anguila Cay, Herradura Cay, and Los Tortuguillos, from east to west, 

 respectively. The only anchorage is between Los Tortuguillos, two islets 

 northwest of the main island, and Arenas Point at its western end. The 

 Velero III anchored just south of the larger of the Tortuguillos in about 

 10 fathoms. 



Dredging was accomplished from the Velero III 7 miles north of 

 Tortuga Island in 40-41 fathoms, sand and shell, and 4 miles north of 

 the island in 21-22 fathoms, dead coral bottom. A shore collecting station 

 was established on the main island opposite Los Tortuguillos, a seine haul 

 at the same place, a dipping station at the gangway light while at anchor, 

 and a small boat dredge station in 2-5 fathoms, which took in much of 

 the shallows between ship and shore and around Arenas Point to within 

 sight of the small village on its south side. (See Chart no. 6.) 



The prevailing current off Tortuga Island is in a westerly direction 

 with a maximum speed of ^ knot. The daytime temperature at the time 

 of the visit of the Velero III in April hovered around 76° F. 



Between the Morro de Barcelona, which forms the northern extremity 

 of Barcelona Bay, and Port Mochima, a distance of 26 miles in an east- 

 northeasterly direction, the coast is exceedingly irregular and has many 

 off-lying islands. From west to east the bays of importance are Guanta 

 Harbor, the Gulf of Santa Fe, Tigrillo Bay, and Port Mochima. The 

 islands are Borracha, the Chimanas (Oeste, Grande, and Segunda), 

 Monos, Picuda Grande, and the Caracas (Oeste, Este, and Venados). 

 Since these localities were not visited by the Velero III, they will not be 

 described except for mention of the fact that the town of Guanta, located 

 on Guanta Harbor, communicates with Barcelona and the interior by 

 rail. 



From Port Mochima to Carenero Point the coast trends due east, 

 then northeast to the city of Cumana, a distance of 10 miles. Cumana is 

 an open roadstead, but is sheltered from the northeast trade winds by its 



