NO. 2 FRASER : SCIENTIFIC WORK, VELERO III, EASTERN PACIFIC 151 



Mexico from Cape C orrientes to Guatemalan Boundary 



Plates 65-76 ; Charts 70-73 



Cape Corrientes, of itself, is not a particularly noticeable landmark, 

 but it is situated at the tip of a prominent convexity in the coast line, south 

 of which the trend changes definitely from south or slightly southeast to 

 but little south of east. Off the Cape, in consequence, there are strong cur- 

 rents and tide rips such as are usually found in such situations. It is a 

 bold headland, 506 feet high, and the wooded country back of it rises 

 rapidly to mountain heights. 



There is little variety in the coast line from Cape Corrientes to the 

 Guatemalan boundary. It consists, in the main, of a series of sand beaches 

 separated by rocky points. The sand beaches vary much in length, and 

 the rocky points may be small and low, or in the nature of high bluffs, 

 or even headlands of considerable width. There are very few indentations 

 significant enough to be called bays, but along the whole coast there are 

 anchorages, safe enough in the dry season, from December to May. 

 Where there are bays, there are commonly outlying rocks and islands. As 

 a background to the shore, the surface of the land rises rapidly and far to 

 the high mountain heights, so that some of the highest mountains in Mex- 

 ico can be seen in clear weather from a few miles offshore. The lower 

 portion of the rise is often quite barren looking, but, higher up, the moun- 

 tain sides may be heavily wooded. 



South of Cape Corrientes the first location explored is Tenacatita 

 Bay, some 80 miles from the Cape, still in the large convexity of the 

 coast. It lies between Brothers Point to the west and Navidad Head to 

 the southeast and is 5 miles across the entrance. Brothers Point is a high, 

 bluff headland, connected to the mainland by a low, sandy isthmus. Lying 

 offshore are some rocks and rocky islets. The north shore and the head of 

 the bay are sandy. Along this shore a lagoon running parallel to the shore 

 empties into the bay. The land at the head of the bay is wooded in part, 

 and there are large nutpalm groves. The southeast shore is higher and 

 more rugged, becoming more so as it extends outward to form Navidad 

 Head, which separates Tenacatita Bay from Navidad Bay. Extending 

 southward from Navidad Head is a chain of rocky islands. There is deep 

 enough water for anchorage in most of the bay, but, when the northwest 

 wind blows, the bay is much exposed. 



The bay has been visited several times. Some interesting material has 

 been obtained at the entrance to the lagoon and along the rocky shore, 

 especially at Navidad Head. Dredging toward the head of the bay was 



