THE FISHES OF SAMOA. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES FOUND IN THE ARCHIPELAGO, WITH A PROVISIONAL 

 CHECK-LIST OF THE FISHES OF OCEANIA. 



By DAVID STARR JORDAN aii.l ALVIN SEALE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The islands of Samoa, known also as the Navigator Islands, or Schiffer Insel, lie 

 in the South Pacific Ocean in latitude 14-" south and loug-itude 172'^ west. Thej^ are 

 volcanic in character, each of the larger one.s rising in a high ridge, with .extinct 

 craters, now ver_y heavily wooded. The almost constant rains tend to make these 

 forests very dense, feeding swift, clear sti'eams, which carry a large volume of water 

 considering the slight length of their courses. Each island is surrounded by a broad 

 coral reef, the outer parts bare at low tide, with a narrow, shallow channel between 

 the inner part and the shore. This reef is interrupted in certain regions, known as 

 the "iron-bound" coast, where the lava rocks cease abruptly beside deep water. It 

 is also interrupted at the mouths of certain streams, which liy their fresh waters kill 

 the coral and make a channel through the reef. 



Of these islands the westernmost, Savaii, about 45 miles long l)y 30 miles broad, 

 is the largest and the most recent geologically. Upolu, -40 miles bj^ 15 miles, is near 

 it in size and position. On the north side of the latter island is the broad V-shaped 

 Bay of Apia, which can scarcely be called a harbor, as it is filled up b^' the reef with 

 the exception of a deep and tortuous channel opposite the mouth of the i-iver Vaisigano, 

 a considerable stream, perhaps the largest on the islands. Upolu and Savaii are now 

 under the German flag, with the capital at Apia. On the west side of the Bay of 

 Apia is the long, narrow peninsula of coral sand, known as Mulinu'u, the residence 

 of Mataafa, chief of Samoa, and the former residence of the kings of the islands. 

 To the west of Mulinu'u is the shallow Ba^^ of Vaitele, and to the eastward of Apia 

 is the larger Bay of Vailele. Into Vaitele Ba}' flows Gasegase River. Into the Ba}^ 

 of Apia flows the Vailema stream and the Vaisigano River, while to the eastward 

 Vaivasi River runs into the Bay of Vailele. 



The next island in size and importance is Tutuila, 20 miles long by about 4 miles 

 liroad, which lies about a deep crater, with the two high peaks of Matabas and Peoa 

 adjoining it. The crater has a narrow opening at one side and forms the landlocked 

 harbor of Pago Pago, the best in Polynesia, about 2.5 miles long and 1 mile wide, 

 with everywhere a broad rim of coral reef. There is a small stream near the head 

 of the harbor, and there arc springs along the side. 



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