INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 263 
which increase its length to a mile and a half. The rocks are all high 
and bold, except one or two, which are but a few feet above water. 
The island is covered with guano, the deposit of myriads of sea birds 
which cover its heights, where they find congenial quarters and safe — 
breeding-grounds. It is entirely devoid of vegetation, except a few 
low leafless bushes. The only sign of vegetable life is a small patch of 
grass a few feet in extent on one of the outlying rocks. 
A cave was discovered on the northwestern side of the island, into 
which one of the ship’s boats proceeded between 100 and 200 yards. 
The arched roof was 15 feet or more in height at the entrance, increasing 
as the cave was penetrated, the surface of the walls being quite smooth. 
The water swarmed with fish. 
From Malpelo the line was continued about N. 36° E. true, in the 
direction of the Gulf of Panama, where three normals were run from 
deep water to the 100-fathom line, extending over two degrees of longi- 
tude. The surface net was in constant use, and the Tanner net was 
operated on several occasions. Serial temperatures were taken fre- 
quently, the sounding wire being successfully used as a temperature 
line. Several instruments were lost the first day by the parting of the 
wire, but no losses occurred afterward, and the trouble arising from 
the mereury shaking down was entirely eliminated. 
Reaching Panama for the second time on the morning of the 12th, 
the ship was painted outside while repairs were being made in the 
engineer’s department. The bunkers were filled with coal between 
the 16th and 19th, and we sailed at 1:10 p.m. on the 20th of March, 
steaming across the gulf. 
Panama to the Galapagos Islands.—Reaching the vicinity of Galera 
Point on the morning of the 23d, a series of soundings was made, feel- 
ing our way to deep water, as it was desirable to cast the trawl and 
make other investigations on the slope from 1,000 to 1,500 fathoms in 
depth. Strong northeasterly currents were found in the vicinity, show- 
ing a maximum of 51 miles in 24 hours, and continuing with-varying 
force nearly to the Galapagos. We were crossing the great Humboldt 
Current, which sweeps along the coast of South America into the 
Gulf of Panama. During nine months of the year, while the trades are 
blowing steadily, the stream is divided, a portion entering the Gulf and 
a broader belt taking a northwesterly direction. This division is not 
usually apparent from January to May, while the trades are interrupted, 
and the western part then takes a northerly direction, with its velocity 
greatly diminished. 
The following series of observations extended from the South Ameri- 
can coast to the Galapagos, crossing one of the great currents of the 
Pacific Ocean at the point where its cooling waters pour into the Gulf 
of Panama and where the faunas of the Southern and Central Pacific 
meet. Great care was observed in all the work on this line and the 
observations were varied and complete. The depths and serial tem- 
