258 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
the ship while near the coast; flying fish were first observed on the 5th 
in latitude 22° 00’ N.;.and two species of booby were noticed. Man-of- 
war hawks, petrels, and turtles were first seen on the 6th in latitude 
20° 00’ N., and a school of young porpoises passed the vessel on the 7th. 
Reaching the vicinity of Acapulco on the evening of the 8th, it was 
thick and hazy over the land, and, not caring to enter the port before 
daylight, we hove to at 10 p. m., finally anchoring in the harbor at 8 
a.m. on the morning of the 9th. Thirty tons of coal were taken on 
board during the day, the usual visits were made to the authorities, 
and at 4:35 p.m. we proceeded to sea, en route to Panama. The nat- 
uralists were busy with the collecting seine while in port, and brought 
in no less than twenty species of fishes besides other forms. 
Tropical heat was encountered before reaching Acapulco, and carried 
without intermission until we reached the Gulf of California on our 
return. Light variable winds and fine weather were the rule from 
Acapulco to Panama, but we had a short northeast gale off Tehuantepec, 
a stiff norther in passing the Gulf of Dulce, and a brisk northerly wind 
from Cape Mala to Panama, where we arrived the morning of the 17th. 
Prof. Alexander Agassiz, under whose direction the scientific work of 
the cruise was to be conducted, reached Colon the same evening. 
Cape Mala to Cocos and Malpelo istands.—Coal and stores were taken 
on board, and at 3 p.m, February 22 we left port for the purpose of 
exploring the waters from Cape Mala to Cocos and Malpelo islands, 
etc. Several schools of anchovies were seen near the islands, in 
Panama Road, with the usual number of frigate-birds, pelicans, gulls, 
porpoises, ete., feeding upon them. ‘The surface net was put over for a 
few minutes at 8 p.m., but there was very little life found. Work 
commenced the following morning, and was continued through the day 
between Morro Puercos and Marieto Point, in depths ranging from 
182 fathoms, gravel and shells, to 695 fathoms, green mud. Vegetable 
matter and occasionally quite large sticks were found at every station. 
The beam-trawl and surface tow-net were used, and while the results 
from the latter were meager, the former developed a rich and varied 
fauna. Serial temperatures and specific gravities were carefully taken, 
but the action of the thermometers was not. wholly satisfactory. 
Rich working ground was found to the southward of Coiba Island on 
the 24th, the soundings developing an unexpected elevation of the sea 
bottom. A depth of 869 fathoms was found 20 miles south of Jicarita 
Island, 791 fathoms at 35 miles, and at 50 miles there was but 465 
fathoms, with rocky bottom—1,672 fathoms being found 14 miles to the 
southward and westward. Rocky patches were frequently encountered, 
especially on the submarine elevation, which played havoe with the 
trawl nets, but rich hauls were made in spite of unfavorable conditions, 
‘and the naturalists were greatly elated over the capture of rare and. 
valuable specimens, some of them entirely new to science. A course 
was steered in the direction of Cocos Island during the night, and at 
