296 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 



Charles Island. 



With the exception of Hood, this is the most southerly island 

 in the group. It is located about thirty-seven miles south of In- 

 defatigable Island. The island is ten miles long and eight miles 

 broad. It reaches an elevation of 1,780 ft. at its highest point. 

 Geologically it is probably one of the oldest islands in the group, 

 and volcanic activity upon it has evidently long since ceased. 

 There are no deposits of even comparatively recent volcanic ma- 

 terial upon it. 



In approaching the island from the south, one is impressed 

 with the number of large craters on it. Fourteen of these were 

 counted, seven of which were larger than the rest. The tops of 

 the most of the craters are evenly rounded, and it was found out 

 later that the southeast sides of many of them were broken down. 

 The slope is quite gradual from the shore to the central region, 

 on all sides but the east. This side was not visited, but in sail- 

 ing along the shore, the slope appeared to be rather steep, and 

 was covered with xerophytic vegetation among which were a 

 large number of Cereus. 



There is a fair amount of soil in most places, composed of vol- 

 canic ashes and bits of lava. There are exposures of lava, how- 

 ever, on which there is but little soil, but they are less common 

 than on other islands visited. The central part of the island is 

 covered with a plateau, several miles square, which has an aver- 

 age elevation of 1,000 ft. Several large tufa craters are located 

 on the plateau^ which usually rise 500-800 ft. above it. Springs 

 occur around the base of one of these, and a considerable amount 

 of water is afforded by one of them. Such domesticated animals 

 as : Cattle, hogs, goats, cats, and dogs have been introduced upon 

 the island. The inhabitants from Chatham island often come 

 here to dry beef for the use of the laborers on that island. 



Black Beach Road. 



Black Beach Road is located on the west side of the island and 

 was the port for the settlement which was located on this island 

 many years ago. A good trail leads inland from here so the cen- 

 tral region is more accessible than on the most of the other un- 

 inhabited islands. 



The shores are low and rocky in the vicinity of Black Beach 

 Road, against which the surf breaks heavily at times. On this 



