Prospects of the Settlement. 135 



sandstone, devoid of fossils, and bedded horizontally. Erratic 

 boulders of syenite and gneiss some of considerable size lay 

 scattered about the beach. 



The shores of the bay indicated a scanty littoral marine fauna. 

 Shells of a small mussel were sparsely strewn about, and were the 

 only molluscan remains noticed. The debris of a small, reddish 

 alga was strewn along the beach in undulating lines ; but no kelp 

 was seen at all, either on the shore or adhering to submerged 

 rocks. 



During our four hours' stay, very little change was noticed in 

 the level of the tide, an argument rather against the likelihood of 

 a channel existing to connect Skyring Water with the ocean to the 

 westward. 



In the meantime those on board the ship were engaged in 

 coaling. We purchased twenty-five tons of the new coal at I 

 a ton, a quantity quite sufficient to enable us to test practically 

 its value. The mining engineer, Monsieur Arnaud, was of opinion 

 that on sinking deeper into the coal-seam a better quality would 

 be met with. The present workings are at a depth of only thirty- 

 six feet from the surface, and as the angle of dip is about 45, it 

 is not improbable that on sinking a deeper shaft his expectations 

 may be realized. Should this be the case, the long-cherished 

 scheme of establishing tug-steamers in the straits to tow sailing 

 vessels from ocean to ocean, will probably be revived, and a great 

 impetus will thus be given to the Straits of Magellan as an 

 avenue for commerce. Moreover, should a permanent settlement 

 be established at the Skyring Water coal-mines, intending colonists 

 will find in the surrounding country a splendid field for their 

 energies. The soil of the pampas is of excellent quality, for from 

 its proximity to the Cordillera, where the eastern drifting Pacific 

 clouds deposit their watery contents, it receives enough moisture 

 to remove from it that arid dryness which has rendered the eastern 

 part of Patagonia unsuited for the agriculturist. There is at 

 present excellent pasturage for cattle, and from all that we know 



