266 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
. 
Having filled up with coal and taken on board supplies, we sailed, 
April 15, for a cruise along the Mexican coast and Gulf of California. 
The surface tow net and the Tanner net were used frequently, and a 
line of dredging stations was commenced to the southward of the Tres 
Marias, in 2,022 fathoms, where serial temperatures were taken. The 
trawl was lowered a few hours later, in 676 fathoms, and the line con- 
tinued to 80 fathoms near the land. Passing the islands the depths 
increased, the sounding cups showing green mud or black sand, but 
there was sufficient clay in it to prevent its washing freely through the 
meshes of the trawl net, thus resulting in the loss of gear from over- 
loading. Frequent patches of shale rock were also encountered, which 
made the use of the trawl still more difficult. The currents of the gulf 
seem to extend to the bottom, even in depths exceeding 1,000 fathoms, 
scouring out the mud and ooze, and occasionally exposing the native 
rock. Sticks, leaves, and other kinds of vegetable matter were marked 
features of the hauls on the eastern side of the gulf as well as in the 
Pacific, but were not brought up in as great quantities. The bottom 
fauna from the Tres Marias to Guaymas was unexpectedly meager; 
indeed, it was a great disappointment to us, for we had consoled our- 
selves for the barren ground off Acapulco in anticipation of rich fields 
in the gulf. 
The work of the cruise ended with our arrival at Guaymas on the 
afternoon of April 25, where Prof. Agassiz left us to return to tae 
Atlantic coast by rail. The explorations during the cruise were con- 
ducted under his general direction, and his great knowledge and expe- 
rience were apparent in all our operations. He was always ready in a 
most genial and kindly way to impart information, which was given so 
plainly that it was always comprehended, even by laymen. We took 
leave of him with much regret, and it is our fond hope that some time 
in the near future we may again have his active codperation in deep- 
sea investigation. 
Scientific results of the cruise.—The scientific report of the expedition 
will be made by Prof. Agassiz, yet it may not be out of place to state 
in a general way some of the results obtained. The fauna of the region 
examined was not as rich as in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Carib- 
bean Sea. Decayed vegetable matter was found to a greater or less 
extent on most of the bottom examined. Foraminifera was, as a rule, 
very sparsely represented in the bottom soil, and was found in consid- 
erable quantities at but few stations. Many forms were identical with 
those of the Caribbean Sea, and others were closely allied to them. 
The repeated use of the Tanner net, remote from land, showed 
that the surface life extended down about 300 fathoms, the bottom 
life reaching up between 100 and 200 fathoms, and the intermediate 
space being practically barren. On one occasion in the Gulf of Cali- 
fornia, in the vicinity of land, life was found from surface to bottom. 
The ocean temperatures of the region were very low, considering that 
