[13] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 15 



ceuter of the Sea. To the southward of latitude 13° IST. tbey trend to 

 the iiortliward of west, and between Trinidad and Blanquilla nortli- 

 west from l.V to 3' i)er hour. Between La Guayra and Curasao it was 

 about W. by S. to W. ^' per hour. 



There were neither birds nor fish observed between St. Thomas and 

 Aves Ishmd, but from the hitter point to Trinidad small llying-tish and 

 flocks of sea-birds were seen daily. Flying-fish were also seen in the 

 central part of the Sea, but no birds till we approached the islands, 

 where we frequently observed them in great numbers in search of food. 

 Two dolphins and two sharks represent the larger marine life seen thus 

 far in the Caribbean. 



During the 11th I paid official visits to his excellency N. Van den 

 Brandhof, governor of Curagao, Capt. Eush li. Wallace, TJ. S. S. Van- 

 dalia, and Capt. A. Baron CoUot d'Escury, commanding the Dutch 

 sloop of war Alkmaar. Captain Waliace visited the ship during the 

 afternoon. 



The naturalists were out collecting both on shore and in the lagoons. 

 During my call on the governor I obtained permission for them to use 

 firearms and shoot specimens for scientific i)ur]joses. 



Preparations were made for coaling, and at 6.20 a. m. the following 

 day we got under way and went alongside the brig Florence, of Sunder- 

 land, and commenced work at 8 a. m., taking 84 tons on board during 

 the day. Coal is handled here in small wooden tubs, holding an aver- 

 age of 40 pounds, making it slow work. We finished at 11.30 a. m. on 

 the 13th, having taken on board 119^|^f tons of double-screened 

 Cardiff coal, for which we paid $10 per ton, American gold, delivered 

 in the bunkers. We returned to the anchorage between noon and 1 

 p. m., hauled fires, and blew down the port boiler for repairs. 



Capt. A. Baron Collot d'Escury made an official visit to the shi^). 

 The American steamer Caracas left with mails for the United States, 

 and the record of soundings to date and other reports were forwarded 

 by her. 



At 10 o'clock on the morning of the 14th the governor of Cura(;ao and 

 ])arty visited the ship and made a thorough inspection of the vessel 

 and her apparatus. Dr. Herndon, Sir. Benedict, and I lunched with the 

 governor on the 17th. The repairs on the boiler and engine were com- 

 pleted on the above date and preparations made for sea. 



The temperature ranged from 71° to 82° during our stay, and at our an- 

 chorage, where the trade-winds had a clear sweep, the weather was very 

 comfortable. We usually had several passing showers during the day, 

 which tended also to temper the atmosphere. We were entirely free 

 from mosquitoes and flies, which is quite unusual in the tropics. The 

 naturalists were successful, both ashore and afloat. 



We left Curayao at 7.20 a. m. on February 18, and ran a line of 

 soundings in a southerly direction to the mainland, the greatest depth 

 being 738 fathoms, The government and people of Curasao will watch 



