FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 53 
archipelago, which could be converted into one of the most productive industries in 
the world. 
The location of the islands of the Colon Archipelago, as I expressed before, could not 
be more advantageous to the fishing industry, on account of the facilities to ship their 
products toall markets. The opening of the Panama Canal willaugment those facilities, 
providing at the same time the advantage of maritime commerce, because a large number 
of vessels will stop on their voyages to and from North America, South America, and 
Australia. 
The circumstance that the ocean which surrounds these islands is tranquil all the 
year round, hurricanes and fogs being unknown, and the undisputed mildness of one of 
the best climates known give to the islands of the archipelago of Colon an exceptional 
opportunity for establishing important fisheries with indubitable benefit for the persons 
who will undertake it and for the whole world which will enjoy the excellence of those 
products. Well-known travelers have made careful studies of the Colon Archipelago 
and they are all consistent with the datum that I submit to the congress. 
Small colonies can be established because the soil is rich, the ports are good, there is 
abundance of wild cattle, and the villages that will be erected by those interested in 
fishing may become important cities, there being all the facilities for living. Salt mines 
may be worked on the islands to salt the fish, and the nearby coast of Ecuador has 
numerous mines that are now in operation. 
With the few undetailed facts that I give, gentlemen, I am sure that you will be 
convinced that the fishing industry has a new horizon and that the Archipelago of Colon 
is destined to be one of the most important centers of universal activity in such an 
important branch of the industries. 
The eminent Dr. Teodoro Wolf in his ‘‘Geology and Geography of Ecuador” says: 
“The islands of Galapagos lie 9°,-or from 500 to 600 nautical miles, from the Ecua- 
dorian coast and are traversed by the equinoctial line. The principal mass of the islands, 
including the 5 largest ones—that is tosay, Albemarle, Indefatigable, Narborough, James, 
and Chatham—lies between said line and the first austral degree; only the 3 small ones— 
Abingdon, Bind!oe, and Towers—are north of the line, and 2 not much larger—Charles 
(Floreana) and Hood—south of the first austral degree. There are commonly 13 
islands, adding to the ones I have mentioned those of Barrington, Duncan, and Jervis. 
Furthermore, there are several smaller keys which surround the large islands. The 
longitudinal area of the archipelago, from Chatham to Narborough, measures 53 leagues, 
and the latitudinal from Floreana to Abingdon, 41 leagues, in a manner such that these 
islands are found scattered over an area on the Pacific Ocean of 2,000 square leagues, 
nevertheless reunited in one body they would have an area of 240 square leagues of solid 
ground. Albemarle, the largest, has 138 square leagues. In the inland region of the 
islands the ground is covered with a turf that is green the year round. ‘The thickets 
offer a large variety of trees and shrubs of equal magnificence and verdure.”’ 
Doctor Wolf, in speaking of the colonization of the islands, calls attention to the fact 
that the fishing along the coast of the islands could be elevated to a plane of great impor- 
tance, which would be a fountain of richness to the colonizers and which would give occu- 
pation to a numerous population. There would bein addition numerous subordinate 
industries, such as the taking of the oil from turtles and terrestrial iguanas. 
On the question of harbors and anchorage, Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. 
Navy, commanding the United States Fish Commission’s steamer Albatross, says: ‘‘ There 
are no landlocked harbors in the Galapagos, but anchorages are found near most of the 
islands, where a vessel may lie usually with perfect safety. Indefatigable Island affords 
good anchorages from Conway Bay along its northern side to the Seymour Islands; there 
are places also along the northeast side where good protection may be found. Chatham 
Island has several good anchorages. Wreck Bay is the most important, as it is the 
seaport of the Hacienda del Progreso, a large sugar plantation. It is open to the west- 
ward, but particularly protected by Schiavoni reef; there is usually a small swell, but 
