[15] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 619 



easterly winds prevailing - , and much squally weather. These condi- 

 tions are normal for the months of January and Febrnary, but rather 

 exceptional for March and particularly for April. We left Nassau 

 April 30, and ran a line of soundings from Egg Island reef to a point 

 of the shoal off Hole-in- the -Wall, to develop a shoal said to exist in 

 mid-channel. An old shipmaster who traded for many years among the 

 islands said he had fished on it and knew that it existed. We found a 

 depth of 2,222 fathoms on the spot indicated, and saw no signs of shoal 

 water. It is more than probabie that the captain fished on the extrem- 

 ity of the reef, making off 10 miles or more from Hole-in- the- Wall, and 

 it is not at all strange that he should think himself half way across the 

 channel, particularly if he was in a small vessel. 



From Hole-in- the- Wall we steamed to Little Guana Cay, and sounded 

 in 940 fathoms, latitude 26° 40' K, longitude 76° 49' 30" W.; then ran 

 a line to the northward and eastward, perpendicular to the coast, to 

 latitude 26°'50' K, longitude 76° 04' 45" W., reaching a depth of 2,670 

 fathoms. The course was then changed to the northward and west- 

 ward and a sounding taken in 2,715 fathoms, latitude 27° 11' N., longi- 

 tude 76° 19' W. The next cast gave 943 fathoms, latitude 27° 41' N., 

 longitude 76° 41' W. From this point a line was run to the westward 

 to latitude 27° 57' 30" N, longitude 77° 27' 30" W., in 660 fathoms. 

 The trawl was lowered at this station at 8. 29 a. m., May 2, and a large 

 number of pteropod shells, a few fish, a single specimen of Argonauta, 

 dead shells of various species, and a quantity of foramiuifera were 

 obtained. 



A line of soundings was then run to the southward and westward, 

 striking the banks off Grand Cay. At 5.45 p. m. we lowered the trawl 

 in 338 fathoms, coral sand, latitude 27° 22' N., longitude 78° 07' 30" W., 

 and made a successful haul. Among the specimens were four species of 

 sea-urchins, dogfish with young, munidas, two species of gorgonian 

 coral, shrimp, crabs, glass sponges, brachiopod shells, fish, &c. At 7.20 

 we steamed to the northward and at 8.20 stopped for forty minutes to 

 use the submarine light. A few good specimens were procured, but the 

 waters were exceedingly barren. The course was resumed at 9 p. m., and 

 at 5. 24 a. m. the following day the trawl was lowered in 572 fathoms, 

 latitude 27° 58' 30" K, longitude 78° 24' W. Five hauls were made 

 during the day between the above position and latitude 28° 40' K, 

 longitude 78° 46' W., in 504 fathoms. The character of the specimens 

 taken in all the hauls was much the same; among them were shrimp, 

 starfish, many fine specimens of flabellum, hermit-crabs, barnacles, sea- 

 urchins, a variety of corals, pennatulas, holothurians, hydroids, several 

 species of fish, &c, beside a large quantity of foramiuifera washed from 

 the contents of the mud-bag. 



The large tow-net was put over after dark and the submarine lights 

 used, but the surface was barren of life. At 11 p. m. we steamed to the 

 northward and westward, and at 5 30 a. m. the following morning 



