NO. 2 FRASER : SCIENTIFIC WORK, VELERO III, EASTERN PACIFIC 53 



factory dredging could be done at a much greater depth than formerly if 

 the bottom was suitable. The smaller dredge was not discarded, since it 

 could be worked in shallower water and over a much rougher bottom 

 than would be safe for the larger dredge. 



In the summer of this year, 1938, the Velero HI headed north for a 

 change, for a visit to San Francisco. This provided the opportunity to do 

 some collecting, mainly by dredging, in an area not previously entered. 



In 1939, March 12 to May 14, Clarion and Socorro islands provided 

 the first bases of operation. From these islands the course was set to 

 Chacahua Bay, Mexico, and southeast along the mainland coast to 

 Balboa, C.Z. (Expedition Chart 8) 



Here came the only digression from the Pacific area in the ten years 

 of operation. The Panama Canal was traversed to explore the Carib- 

 bean coastal areas of Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas, as 

 far east as Trinidad and Tobago islands. On the return to Balboa, the 

 Velero III was headed homeward along the mainland coast, collecting 

 by the way as far north as Isabel Island, Mexico. 



In 1940, January 17 to February 20, the Gulf of California was the 

 center of attraction for the third time. On the way south stops were made 

 at Turtle Bay, Santa Maria Bay, and Magdalena Bay, and on the way 

 back at San Benito Islands. The Gulf itself was traversed pretty well 

 from end to end, and many points on both sides of the Gulf, as well as the 

 shores of many of the islands in the Gulf, provided collecting stations. 

 (Expedition Chart 9) 



In 1941 no long voyage south materialized. The longest trip (Febru- 

 ary 22 to March 2), although lasting but nine days, was quite successful. 

 The route was to Wilson Cove, San Clemente Island, Johnsons Landing 

 and White Cove, Santa Catalina Island, south and west of Point Loma, 

 Todos Santos Bay, Ranger Bank, San Benito Islands, South Bay, Ced- 

 ros Island, around Natividad Island, north through Dewey Channel, 

 to the northeast point of Cedros Island and home. Its principal impor- 

 tance lay in the fact that the gaps in the Cedros Island region were filled 

 up to some extent in an area that is much in the limelight in discussing 

 distribution along the west coast of Lower California in relation to other 

 areas farther north and south. (Expedition Chart 10) 



During the intervals between the longer cruises, especially in the last 

 three years, shorter collecting trips, lasting from one day to four or five 

 days, have been made in the area between Point Conception and Point 

 Loma. The shore has been explored, biologically, at most of the suitable 

 locations on the mainland as well as on the islands of the Santa Barbara 



