268 REPORT OF COMMISSIONEli OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



pleasant but warm, tlio saiiio conditions prevailing until we arrived at 

 tlie Galapa.uos with one notable exce])tion, Mareli !i3, wlien in 1^ 00' N. 

 and 80° 00' W. we bad an overcast rainy day. It was tlie lieigbt of the 

 rainy season in the archipelago and sliowers Avere of frequent occur- 

 rence every day, the sun coming out brightly between them. There 

 was more or less rain after leaving the islands to 5° 00' N. Thence to 

 Acapulco, Guaymas, and Cape San Lucas it was invariably bright and 

 clear. The mornings were hazy or foggy off the coast of Lower Califor- 

 nia, generally clearing between 10 a. m. and meridian. From San Diego 

 to the bay of San Francisco it was misty, but not sufficiently thick to 

 interfere with navigation. 



The currents from San Francisco to Acapulco were neither strong nor 

 constant in direction; the aggregate was 70 miles agsynst us during the 

 trip. They were stronger tlience to Panama, amounting to about 100 

 miles adverse set. From Panama to Cocos Island, Malpelo, and return, 

 the general set was south and southeast from G to 39 miles per day. 

 From Panama toward Cape San Francisco, on the coast of Ecuador, the 

 set was southwest to west from 7 to 24 miles per day. 



The Humboldt current was encountered about 2° 00' N. and 80° 00' 

 W. from 20 to 51 miles a day, setting to the northward and eastward, 

 trending more to the eastward as we left the coast, until in 87° 00' W. 

 it was S. 83° E. 17 miles in twenty-four hours ; thence to the Galapagos 

 but little current was noticed. The general set through the archipel- 

 ago is to the westward, except from January to April or May, when 

 currents are mostly confined to tidal influence. 



A light easterly drift was apparent from the islands to 0° 00' N. ; then 

 a westerly set, reaching a maximum of 50 miles per day to about 9° 

 OO'IST. ; thence to Acapulco very light. From the latter port a light 

 northwesterly current was felt, increasing as we approached Cape 

 Corrientes, and ceasing entirely to the northward of the Tres Marias 

 Islands, from whic^li point to Guaymas the drilt was light to the east- 

 ward. From the latter ])ort to Cape San Lucas and San Diego the cur- 

 rents were very liglit and variable. Thence to San Francisco, where 

 the coast was followed closely, the influence of Davidson's counter- 

 current from the southward and eastward was felt. 



The general health of oflicers and crew was excellent considering the 

 rai>id and extreme climatic changes they were subjected to. 



Marc Island Navy-yard and ^San Francisco. — Many of the crew were 

 discharged soon after our arrival at JNlare Island, their terms of service 

 having expired, heaving us with barely force enough to care for the 

 vessel. Ensign W. W. Gilmer, U. S. N., was detached on May 8, and 

 on the 18th Passed vXssistant Engineer J. R. Wilmer, IT. S. N., was 

 sent to the naval hospital for treatment for insomnia and nervous 

 prostration. On the 28th of the same month telegraphic orders were 

 received to commence r(^l);u is necessary for the contc^nndated summer's 

 cruise. It soon became ai)i)aren( that Mr. Wilmer wiml be unable to 



