NO. 1 GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT AND STATION RECORDS 27 



Air temperatures recorded in the pilot house of the Velero III varied 

 from 76° F. at 2 A.M. to 81 ° F. at 2 P.M. the latter part of April. Light 

 winds and moderately choppy seas, necessitating the raising of small boats 

 at night, were recorded by ship's officers. 



Three collecting stations were established in the vicinity of Willem- 

 stad: a shore collecting station on the larger island in Valentijn Bay, a 

 visit to a large commercial dredge dump also in Valentijn Bay, and a 

 dipping station beneath the gangway light at the Velero Ill's anchorage 

 in the Schottegat. Difficulty was encountered in getting to Spanish Bay, 

 an early type locality, because of the private ownership of the beach and 

 collecting at Jan Thiel's resort at Vista Alegre was substituted. (See 

 Charts nos. 1, 10.) 



Aruba 

 (Collecting Stations A16-A18) 



The island of Aruba lies 15 miles off the Venezuelan coast opposite 

 the Peninsula of Paraguana. It is a barren island 4 miles wide, extending 

 16 miles in a northwesterly direction and having as its highest point 

 Jamanota Hill, elevation 617 feet. The northeast side is steep and rocky. 

 Most of the southwest side is fringed by a low-lying reef extending from 

 ^ to ^ mile offshore. Such harbors as there are, are behind this reef, 

 with breaks m the reefs forming harbor entrances. 



The interior of the island is excessively arid. Water conservation is a 

 problem and has been in part solved by having oil tankers carry fresh 

 water as ballast on their return trips. Aruba's few trees are blown by the 

 prevailing winds until they resemble umbrellas turned inside out. (See 

 illustration.) 



Oranjestad is the principal community, appearing from the anchorage 

 in Paarden Bay as a typical Dutch village with a steepled church in the 

 center. It is located near the northwest end of the island and marks the 

 limit of the barrier reef. Most of the commercial activity centers at San 

 Nicolaas, with its huge oil refineries and extensive farms of mushroom- 

 shaped tanks. Entrance to San Nicolaas Bay is made through a break in 

 the reef, the channel being but 200 feet wide at one point. A pilot is 

 necessary and vessels are moored bow and stern inside. Oil tankers dock 

 alongside the wharf, which is amply provided with pipe lines. A strong 

 northwesterly current flows past the harbor. 



A single shore collecting station was established at Pta. Basora, the 

 extreme southeastern tip of Aruba, directly opposite Cape San Roman on 

 the Venezuelan coast. The beach was steep and rocky with overhanging 

 cliffs, and collections could be made only when a wave receded. However, 

 a good variety of material was obtained. 



