[11] WOEK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 13 



to enter ; in fact, two or three birds were shot, but it was impossible to 

 recover them, as a heavy surf broke through the entire length of the 

 cavern. As they could not be reached iuside the cave, IVIessrs. Bene- 

 dict and Nje remained to watch the entrance and attempt to shoot 

 some as they came out at night, Mr, Morrison offering to furnish them 

 with a boat and lodging. They succeeded in shooting a single speci- 

 men, which they brought on board the following morning. Mr. Nj-e 

 was confident that, with their experience of the past night, they could 

 do better if they had another chance. 



We were employed during the day swinging ship under steam to ob- 

 tain compass errors, and towards night we dropped Messrs. Benedict 

 and Nye, with a party in charge of Lieutenant May, U. S. N., near the 

 cave for a final attack on the birds. The ship, after finishing compass 

 observations, anchored in Dehert Bay, Mono Island, for the night. 

 The party returned from the cavern about 8 p. m. with one more bird, 

 which was shot by Mr. Nye as it flew out. Others were killed, but could 

 not be found in the darkness and the dense thicket. 



There is a larger cave on the north side of Huevos, an island near 

 by, inhabited by these birds, but the api)roach is impracticable during 

 the winter months. 



At 5.45 a. m., February 3, we got under way, steamed out of Dehert 

 Bay into the Gulf of Paria and took three hauls of the trawl ; the first 

 two were successful, but during the third the trawl fouled ou a coral 

 patch and was lost, together with 300 fathoms of rope. 



After entering the Caribbean we laid a course NW. (mag.), sound- 

 ing every 10' for 45', then NW. by W. f W. 125', sounding every 1'5'. 

 This course was taken in order to ascertain whetlier spurs run oft" to 

 the northward from Los Testigos or Blauquilla. Having completed 

 the line, we hauled up to NE. ^ IST. (mag.), sounding every 25', to de- 

 termine the western slope of the ridge before mentioned, extending to 

 the southward from Aves Island. 



Our course was nearlj^ head to wind and sea, which reduced the speed 

 and increased our coal expenditure considerably, but we thought it 

 advisable to ascertain the extent of the elevation referred to. We 

 reached the summit in 652 fathoms, then kept away to NW. ^ W. (mag.), 

 sounding as before, until we reached 2,000 fathoms, then every 50' to 

 latitude 10° 3C' 20" N., longitude 60° 41' 00" W. in 2,501 fathoms. Wo 

 then ran W. ^ S. (mag.) 7G', and at 1.45 a. m., February 7, sounded in 

 2,458 fathoms, latitude 16° 35' 20" N., longitude 08° 00' 30" W. After 

 the last sounding the course was changed to SSE. J E. (mag.), and 

 sounding^ taken every 50'. A set of serial temperatures and water 

 specimens were taken during the afternoon in latitude 15° 02' 00" IS"., 

 longitude 67*^ 13' 20" W. Our soundings showed a gradual increase in 

 depth as we went to the southward, and tliere is a probability tljat tlie 

 greatest depth will be found in the southern portion of the Sea. 



At 4.15 p. m,, February 8, latitude 12° 54' 40" N., longitude 00° 11' 



