NO. 2 FRASER ! SCIENTIFIC WORK, VELERO III, EASTERN PACIFIC 227 



and in Freshwater Bay. The dredging stations are at the entrance of 

 Stephens Bay, farther out than Kicker Rock, in 32-40 fathoms, sand and 

 coralline, and in shallower water, 8-12 fathoms, at the entrance to Sappho 

 Cove, where the large boulders on the bottom made dredging difficult. 

 Here gorgonids are at their largest and best. There is one station, about 

 3 miles offshore at Freshwater Bay, in 400 fathoms, coarse sand. 



In the southern crescent, Narborough Island and the southern part 

 of Albemarle have already been discussed. As no dredging, and very little 

 shore collecting, has been done at or near either of them, they do not 

 come into the distribution picture. The two remaining islands, Charles 

 and Hood, have received much attention. They show very well the 

 greater effect of the Humboldt Current than do the islands in the other 

 two crescents. In the swing of the Humboldt Current north and south 

 in seasonal succession, these islands are seldom, if ever, outside the influ- 

 ence of the current. 



Charles Island lies midway between Albemarle and Hood islands, 35 

 miles from each, 27 miles south of Indefatigable Island. It is about 10 

 miles long, east to west, and 7 miles wide. There are two rather large 

 volcanic cones, 1,500 and 1,780 feet, toward the southern coast, both 

 visible from the western approach to Black Beach Anchorage. The slope 

 to the north shore is quite gradual, and there are few secondary cones. 

 There are some springs on the island, but they do not supply enough wa- 

 ter for irrigation, except to a limited extent. In very dry seasons, like that 

 in 1934, they may nearly dry up. There is vegetation on much of the 

 island, with a greater relative number of trees and shrubs, as compared 

 with cactus, than on some of the other islands. There is suitable stock 

 fodder ; cattle, goats, pigs, and donkeys are said to be somewhat abundant 

 on the island. 



What few sand beaches there are, at Black Beach, Post Office Bay, 

 etc., are very small. The south shore is high and abrupt, the remainder 

 lower and more irregular, with rocky points, islets, and reefs outlying. 

 The chief islands, none of them large, are Onslow Island, off Cormorant 

 Point to the north, and Caldwell and Gardner islands to the southeast. 

 The bays are rather insignificant, none of them offering much protection 

 in a storm; but, since storms are rare, they serve as good anchorages. 

 Black Beach Bay on the west coast, just north of Saddle Point, is a small 

 bight, with a pocket, sand beach that is protected by the rocks enough to 

 make a good landing place. There is much algal growth in shallow water 

 near the rocky shore, but farther out the bottom is sandy. 



