Cu. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 227 



rum Iter of small ñsli, which covered the water; a 

 circum tance the more surprizing, as there are such 

 multitudes ofsea-wolves all along thecoast, which live 

 on nothing else. For though there is very little fishing 

 near these islands, yet doubtless the constant ravages 

 of such enormous creatures, may be thought at least 

 equal to the capture of a large ñshery. 



These several species are all so delicate and palate- 

 able, that the epicure would be at a loss which to prefer. 

 The lobsters are often half a yard in length, and are 

 taken even with greater ease than the others. They 

 are of an exquisite taste, though the meat is some- 

 thing hard. The berrugate is a large scaly fish. 



We continued at anchor near this island till the ^^¿d. 

 of January ; during which time, we reconnoitred every 

 part of it, and particularly, visited the place where the 

 English had erected their tents, in order to discover 

 any private signal they might have left for the infor- 

 mation of any other ships that should afterwards touch 

 at this island. The president of Chili had, with the 

 same view, sent a ship hither some months before our 

 arrival ; but all they met with was two bottles, in each 

 of which was a writing in cypher ; and all we disco- 

 vered were the piquets and poles of the tents ; with 

 •their small wooden bridges for crossing the breaches, 

 and other things of that kind. Both our frigates ha- 

 ving taken in water and wood, we sailed at tliree in the 

 afternoon for the island of Santa Maria, wdiich wemade 

 on the 5th of February, and after carefully surveying 

 it on all sides, continued our course till half an hour 

 after seven of the same da}^ when we came to an 

 anchor at Puerto Tome, on tlie E. side of the bay 

 of Conception. 



At our departure from the island of Fernandes, we 

 steered first E. one quarter southerly, and the winds 

 continuing between the S. and S. E. we tacked on the 

 S3d, and steered between the W. Í5. W. and S. S. VV 

 but on the 82th, being in the latitude of :3¿° Ü3' 30'' 

 QS! 33' 



