100 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 1 



Espiritu Santo Island and Isla Partida shut off most of the remainder 

 from the open Gulf. There is little sandy beach, the rocky shore forming 

 high bluffs and projecting points in many places. 



San Juan Nepomezeino Island, off the west side of the peninsula, 4 

 miles from San Lorenzo Point, serves to protect Pichilinque Harbor to 

 the south of it and helps to make this harbor one of the best on the coast. 

 It is well that this is so, for the southern portion of La Paz Bay, afford- 

 ing approach to the city of La Paz, is all quite shallow. The southern 

 extremity of the bay forms La Paz Harbor, on which the city of La Paz, 

 the largest city in Lower California, is situated. A large lagoon, Ense- 

 nada de Anpe, extends southwestward from the harbor. 



There are shore, electric light, and dredging stations at the entrance 

 to Pichilinque Harbor and off Prieta Point, a short distance south. 



The only conspicuous point on the west shore of La Paz Bay is 

 Coyote Point. The northern terminus is Mechudo Head, a bold, per- 

 pendicular, stratified cliff 300 feet high. There is one dredging station 

 off this head in 43-44 fathoms, but none in the main portion of La Paz 

 Bay. 



From Mechudo Head the coast extends regularly to the northwest, 

 16 miles, to Nopolo Point. Off this portion of the coast and separated 

 from it by San Jose Channel lies San Jose Island, I6y 2 miles long, 2 to 

 6 miles wide, with more vegetation than some of the other gulf islands. 

 South of this island, 1% miles, is San Francisco Island, 4 1 / £ miles off 

 Mechudo Head. The channel between is shallow and is blocked to some 

 extent by Coyote Rocks and others of smaller size. The area of the island 

 is \y 2 square miles. The coast consists mainly of rocky bluffs, but there is 

 a low, sandy neck connecting the southern tip with the rest of the island. 

 All around the island the water is comparatively shallow, but deepens 

 rapidly to the eastward. This has been a favorite collecting area. Much 

 dredging, shore collecting on the rocks and on shingle, and for coral 

 masses, and dipping with electric light have all brought good results. 



North of San Jose Island are the rocky islands or islets, San Diego 

 and Santa Cruz. 



From Nopolo Point to San Marcial Point, 32 miles, the coast con- 

 tinues regularly somewhat west of north, with but one conspicuous point 

 between, Point Telmo. The coast is a succession of rocky bluffs and small 

 sand beaches. There are a number of small islands and rocky islets a short 

 distance offshore. 



