24 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FlSTTERlES. f22] 



Dr. Herndon made inquiries the following day and satisfied himself 

 that the cases referred to were yellow fever | and althongh he was un- 

 able to learn of the existence of any cases at that time, he advised 

 every possible precaution. We followed this advice as strictly as pos- 

 sible, no one leaving the ship except on duty. 



On the morning of the 27th we went alongside of a vessel just arrived 

 from LiverjDool with coal for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and 

 took on board GO tons, returning to our anchorage in the evening. The 

 strict quarantine observed prevented the naturalists from making col- 

 lections at this port, which I expected would be the most fruitful, owing 

 to the facility with which they could reach the interior by the railroad. 

 Ensign A. A. Ackerman was detached by telegraphic orders from the 

 Navy Department, and subsequently assigned to duty in the Greely 

 Eelief Expedition. His departure restricted the scope of our investi- 

 gations, as he had charge of the departments of botany, geology, and 

 mineralogy. Kecessary repairs on the boilers detained us several days 

 after we were in other respects ready for sea. The quarantine having 

 been maintained until we departed, there was little opportunity for col- 

 lecting specimens. Such as could be taken from the ship were, in fact, 

 the only ones secured. 



We left Aspinwall at 9.30 a. m., xVpril 2. Steaming out about 5 miles 

 from the anchorage, we put the dredge over in 25 fathoms, with slight 

 success, the bottom being api)arently smooth and hard, where we ex- 

 pected mud. Thinking the trawl might do better, we put it over, about 

 5 miles to the northward, in 31 fathoms on smooth bottom, but soon 

 dragged on to foul ground, where it caught frequently, and, after heav- 

 ing it up, we found the net a wreck, but the bag still held a large vari- 

 ety of corals, sponges, fish, crabs, ophiurans, &c., three or four fine 

 specimens of free crinoids being considered special prizes by Mr. Bene- 

 dict. The tangles, with a boat-dredge attached, were put over in 130 

 fathoms about 2 or 3 miles from the latter position, but came up perfectly 

 clean, indicating a smooth, hard bottom, or a mud so thin that it all 

 washed through the dredge-net. 



After the tangles were up, a line of soundings was started NNW. ^ 

 W. (mag.) for Old Providence Island, about 240 miles distant. Casts 

 were made at intervals of 10 to 25 miles. Starting with 707 fathoms, 

 17 miles from Aspinwall, the water shoaled to Gil fathoms at 27 miles, 

 reaching the maximum, 1,900 fathoms, 77 miles from port, then shoaled 

 gradually to 339 fathoms close to the reef off" the SW. end of Old 

 Providence. We made the island at 8,30 a. m. on the 4th, and anchored 

 in Catalina Harbor at 3.50 p. m. 



We called here for the double purpose of procuring sujiplies and giv- 

 ing the naturalists an opportunity of examining the fauna of this iso- 

 lated island. I wished also to give the officers and crew an opportunity 

 to stretch their legs on shore after their long confinement on board, very 

 few of them having been out of the ship since leaving Kingston. 



