INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 223 



Six lines of soimdiugs were iiiiide across Mouterey Biiy, three iuside 

 and three outside of a line drawn from Point Pinos to Santa Cruz, 

 develoi)ing- the great submarine valley wliieh begins at the mouth of the 

 Salinas l\iver. It was supposed to lie in a west-southwesterly direc 

 tiou, as indicated by inshore soundings; but our observations, while 

 not sutticiently extended to define it positively, show it to trend S. by 

 W. ort" Cyi>ress Point, with a depth of 950 fathoms 8 miles from hind. 

 Less water Avas found to the northward and westward farther ott" shore, 

 where there is an elevation of about 200 fathoms. Further examiua- 

 tion of this ridge or i)lateau is desirable. • 



From 245 fathoms less than 1.5 miles from Cypress Point, the line of 

 equal depth gradually leaves the coast until west from Point Sur it is 

 between 9 and 10 miles from shore. Drawing in abruptly, 293 fathoms 

 was found 5 miles southwest from the point, with 30 fathoms little more 

 than a mile iuside of it. Thence to Lopez Eock the shore is exceedingly 

 bold, the 200-fathom line ap[>roaching within 2 miles or less, then 

 diverging slightly until off Piedras Blancas it is between G and 7 miles 

 from the point. This stretch of coast from Oarmel Point to Piedras 

 Blancas is entirely open and exposed to the full power of the ocean 

 swell, which causes a tremendous surf, even with the ordinary coast 

 winds. Slight protection may be found under Point Sur, but even that 

 can not be depended upon in bad weather. Southward from Piedras 

 Blancas the character of the coast line changes materially, and there 

 are various points where fairly good anchorage may be found. San 

 Simeon Bay affords the best jirotection north of San Luis Obispo. 



As the shore line becomes less abrupt, shoal water extends farther 

 seaward, 200 fathoms being found 7 miles oft' San Simeon Point, about 

 10 miles oft' Point Esteros and Point Buchon, and between 13 and 14 

 miles off Point San Luis; then, sweeping a little seaward off Points 

 Sal and Purisima, it approaches within about 8 miles of the bold head- 

 land of Point Arguello and 10 miles from Point Conception. 



The character of the bottom is so uniform along the coast that it may, 

 for our purpose, be treated in a general way. The area between the 

 Golden Gate, Point Pillar, the Farallones, and Point lleyes is sandy 

 and free from rocks and stony patches, except in the immediate vicinity 

 of the i.slands or shore line. Southward from Pillar Point, rocky patches 

 near the shore will be frequently found, with fine gray sand farther off, 

 which finally merges into green mud at varying distances from the land. 

 There are stony patches also, usually between 30 and 70 fathoms, on 

 sandornmd bottom, apparentlj^ the result of drift. The green mud 

 has a strong odor, which is occasionally offensive. 



