LOS CORONADOS 205 



lofty peaks, as the water about them is very deep. 

 There are three islands in the group, extending four 

 and one-half miles in a west-northwest and east-south- 

 east direction, about seven miles from shore. I have 

 seen them from the summit of San Clemente, standing 

 out with weird distinctness, when the wind was down 

 and the heat had taken all the moisture from the air. 

 The mirage lifted them high into the empyrean, dis- 

 torted them so that they appeared like castles resting 

 afloat on an azure sea. 



The islands are three in number. The one to the 

 northwest, known as Cortez, is four hundred and 

 sixty-seven feet high; the one to the southeast is 

 six hundred and seventy-two feet high. They are 

 extremely rough and barren. One has an attractive 

 little harbor where small boats find refuge; but the 

 cliffs are steep, and hard climbing is necessary to 

 reach the summit. 



On the end of one the rocks have separated in 

 a strange manner, possibly the result of an earth- 

 quake. The curious cracks are plainly seen in 

 photographs, from a distance giving the appearance 

 of stripes. 



The islands are uninhabited and never have sup- 

 ported a continuous native population, but they are 

 remarkable fishing-grounds. Surrounded by forests of 

 kelp, they afford refuge for myriads of rock bass, 

 sheepshead, and whitefish, while the great black sea 

 bass affords famous sport for the tourists who congre- 

 gate at Coronado Beach very nearly opposite and in 

 plain view. 



On the rocks, seals, sea-bears, sea-lions abound; and 

 formerly sea elephants made the place their home; 



