10 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISM AND FISHERIES. [8 ] 



tlie last souiidin.!;-, wo, laid a course for St. Tlioiuas, arrivinj,^ at merid- 

 ian. An oHicer was sent to call on the United States consnl, V. V. 

 Smith, es(|., who returned to the ship with him. At 3 p. m., accom- 

 l)ani('d hy the (tonsul, 1 made an ollicial visit to the ft'overnor, Oherst 

 Arendrup, and during the call obtained permission for the scientists to 

 shoot birds, &c.. on the island. The governor expressed a desire to 

 render us every assistance in his i)ower. 



Showers of rain were of frequent occurrence, this being the rainy 

 season, whicli, it is said, lasts from about November until Ajjril. The 

 rains and ])artially (doudy weather temper the atmosphere, and, was 

 it not- for th(^ constant moisture, the climate at this season would be 

 perfect. 



Preparations weie made for coaling, and on the ISth we took on board 

 02 tons of double-screened ('ardiif coal, tor Avhich we paid $7.75 per 

 ton stow'cd in the buidvors. 



The scientists were thus far successful and anticipate excellent re- 

 sults from their labors Ikmc. 



Mechanics commenced work in the boilers on the morning of the lOtli 

 and finished on the 23d. On the evening of the 22d, accompanied by five 

 officers, 1 dined with the governor of St. Thomas, and on the following 

 day he i)aid an oihcial visit to the ship, carefully inspecting all her 

 appointments, including the scientific apparatus. We received many 

 courtesies from the government and people, and were greatly indebted 

 to the United States consul for advice and assistance, not onl}' in the 

 ordinary business of the ship, but in making s(;ientific collections. Ho 

 even acted as pilot and guide to a lagoon in a remote part of the island, 

 where many interesting sj)ecimens were procured. 



We left St. Thomas at 7 a. m., -January 24, and at 8,43 a. m. sounded 

 in 510 fathoms 12' SSW. of the light house. The following lines were 

 then run and soundings taken every 5': SSW. (mag.) 50'; N. by W. ^ 

 W. (mag.) 45', and SW. ^ W. (nnig.) 25', developing a connecting ridge 

 between Santa Cruz and Torto liico having from 578 to 933 fathoms of 

 water on it, 2,()()0 fathoms or more being found on either side. Serial 

 temperatures were taken both east and west of the ridge. 



Fresh winds were encountered after we left the islands, with frequent 

 squalls of wind and rain and the short chopping sea peculiar to the 

 Caribbean. At 10.10 p. m. on the 25th we started on a C(wrse SE. ^ E. 

 (mag.), sounding every 25'. The deepest water— 2,090 fathoms — was 

 found the first cast in latitude 17° 15' 30" N., longitude 05o 20' 30" W., 

 the depth decreasing gradually to Aves Island, which we reached at 

 11.30 a. m. on the 27th. It was onr intention to locate the island and 

 give the naturalist an opi)ortunity to examine it, but on approaching 

 within a mile of the lee beach we found the surf much too heavy to 

 admit of landing with safety. 



The island is small and low, not over 10 feet in height, with a few low 

 bushes, and near the center two rough board houses and a tall flagstaff" 



