NO. 2 FRASER : SCIENTIFIC WORK, VELERO III, EASTERN PACIFIC 69 



From this account it is evident that the Pacific Coast of Lower Cali- 

 fornia, with the exception of the Cedros Island region, has been explored 

 very inadequately as yet, although it is an area of promise above the aver- 

 age. It is quite a different story with the east coast of the peninsula and 

 the whole of the Gulf of California. 



Before giving consideration to this large and important area, some 

 reference may be made to some of the outlying islands. 



The Revilla Gigedo Islands 

 Plates 74, 75 ; Charts 46, 47 



South of Cabo Falso 260 miles and slightly west of it is Socorro 

 Island, the largest island of the Revilla Gigedo group. This island con- 

 sists of a large volcanic cone, Mount Evermann, 3,707 feet high, with 

 several smaller cones, some of them quite small, on its flanks. It is 10 

 miles in length and over 8 in breadth. The slopes to the north and west 

 are quite steep, to the south and east much less so. The whole island is 

 volcanic, and the general appearance, due to exposed lava and a general 

 lack of green vegetation, is anything but inviting. There is said to be 

 fresh water on the island throughout the year, but there is not much 

 general evidence of it. At times the island has been inhabited. Chart 46. 



Some of the ash or cinder cones stand out prominently; the one to 

 the westward of Braithwaite Bay is a characteristic feature of the island. 

 In many cases the lava flows are entirely exposed. Near the shore this is 

 generally true, but in the gullies or draws, or even on the regular slopes, 

 the cactus and low shrubbery may be plentiful, often so thickly matted 

 that passage through is not readily possible. 



The island is nearly rectangular, the northern portion terminating in 

 Cape Middleton, the eastern in Cape Pearce, the southern in Cape Rule, 

 and the western in two points, two miles apart, Rugged Point and Cape 

 Henslow. A short distance off this latter cape is a conspicuous, rocky 

 islet, Oneal Rock. The shore, in general, is abrupt and rugged, with 

 plenty of outlying rocks, but with deep water close offshore ; hence, there 

 are few spots that offer a good landing. Much of the southwest coast con- 

 sists of a narrow bight, Cornwallis Bay; and on the south shore, some dis- 

 tance east of Cape Rule, is the only real bay on the whole coast, Braith- 

 waite Bay, with the cinder cone, mentioned above, forming much of its 

 western boundary. At the head of the bay is a beach, well supplied with 

 isolated rocks, so that it may be described as bouldery rather than shingly. 



There is plenty of evidence that Socorro is a tropical island. Frigate 

 birds, goonies, and boobies fly about, mantas and sharks are abundant in 



