54 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
landing or lightering is seldom interrupted. Stevens Bay is superior as a harbor, has 
more room, and has a snug cove which forms an excellent boat landing and harbor for 
small craft or lighters, its smooth beach affording excellent opportunity for hauling them 
out for repairs. Post-Office Bay, 4 miles to the north of Black Beach Road, is one of the 
best anchorages in the Archipelago. It is well protected, with moderate depth of water 
and good holding ground. -Landing is practicable at all times.” There are many other 
anchorages on these islands too numerous to be mentioned in this brief report. 
Commander Tanner, commenting on the strategical value of the archipelago, goes 
on to say: “‘ The strategical value of the islands is increasing with the advent of modern 
cruisers which are entirely dependent upon steam as a motive power. They are in 
direct route from San Francisco to Callao and Valparaiso, and, in the event of the com- 
pletion of the Panama Canal, they would lie in the route to Australia and New Zealand 
and would become a regular port of call for steamers plying between those places. A 
glance at the map will show the location of the group with reference to the coasts of 
North, Central, and South America, and the value of a coaling station at that point, 
nearly midway between San Francisco and Lota, the southernmost coaling port in the 
Pacific, becomes at once apparent. A modern cruiser could make the run direct from 
San Francisco to the Galapagos, fill up with coal, procure fresh provisions from shore, 
and reach the South American coast with a good supply of fuel, avoiding the longer 
and more expensive route via Acapulco and Panama. ‘The location of the islands in 
the region of the southeast trade winds is particularly favorable for the delivery of coal 
from Australia, Lota, or even from the Atlantic coast. It could be laid down there 
at much less cost than at Acapulco or Panama.” 
I ask, therefore, of the honorable delegates of the different countries here represented 
that they be so kind as to call the attention of their countrymen toward the fisheries 
of the Archipelago of Colon (Islands of Galapagos) in the certainty that they will reap 
great rewards. 
The PRESIDENT. Professor Vinciguerra has a communication to present to 
the congress. 
Prof. DEcIO VINCIGUERRA. Before this congress adjourns I think it proper 
to call its attention to a subject which was discussed at the International Fishery 
Congresses of St. Petersburg and Vienna, namely, the timeliness of an international 
oceanographic exploration of the Mediterranean Sea in the interest of fisheries. 
The same question was debated at various international geographic congresses, and 
recently at the Geographic Congress of Geneva. I hadthe honor to report on this 
subject on behalf of the Italian Geographical Society. The importance of this 
proposition was recognized by the Geneva Congress, which has intrusted its 
consideration to a committee, whose presidency has been offered to the Prince 
of Monaco, whose valuable contributions to oceanography are well known. On 
this committee should be represented all nations of the Mediterranean shore, 
the Adriatic and Black seas included. I think it superfluous to tell this congress 
the reasons why the fishery interests of the Mediterranean make this exploration 
impellent, because it is generally known that whatever legislation there may be 
on the matter, and especially that having an international character, can be 
based only upon the knowledge of the life history of fishes and on that of the 
physical conditions of the waters where they live. I confine myself, therefore, to 
the proposition that this congress, reaffirming its former votes, shall approve 
the proposed exploration. 
