^0. 4. — Three Letters from Alexander Agassiz to the Hon. 

 George M. Bowers, United States Fish Commissioner, on the 

 Cruise, in the Eastern Pacific, of the U. S. Fish Commission 

 Steamer "Albatross," LiEUT. COMMANDER L. M. Garrett, 

 U. S. N,, Commanding. 



I. 



Lima, Peru, November 28, 1904. 



The " Albatross," under command of Lieutenant-Commander L. M. 

 Garrett, left San Francisco on the 6th of October and arrived at Pan- 

 ama the 22d. On her way along the coast Professor C. A. Kofoid 

 took advantage of the opportunity for making surface hauls with the 

 tow nets as well as vertical hauls, generally to a depth of 300 fathoms. 

 A large amount of pelagic material was thus collected, not at a great 

 distance from the coast however. Off Mariato Point the "Albatross" 

 made two hauls in the vicinity of the stations where in 1891 she found 

 "modern green sand," in about 500 and 700 fathoms. It was interest- 

 ing to find the green sand again, as the specimens collected in 1891 were 

 lost in transit to Washington. I am fortunate in having as assistant 

 for this trip, Professor Kofoid, who has had great experience in studying 

 the Protozoa both in fresh water and at sea. He has been given charge 

 of the collection of Eadiolarians and Diatoms and of other minute 

 pelagic organisms ; and he will prepare a report on the results of that 

 branch of the work of the expedition. 



The "Albatross" arrived at Panama on the 22d; she was coaled and 

 provisioned at once. On my arrival at Panama on the 1st of November 

 I found her ready for sea, and on the 2d we left for Mariato Point to 

 make a few additional trawl hauls in the region of the green sand. In 

 both the hauls made off Mariato Point green sand was found, but not 

 in the quantity obtained in 1891. 



From Mariato Point we made a straight line of soundings towards 

 Chatham Island in the Galapagos, intersecting tlie ring of soundings 

 we made northeast of the islands in 1891. The deepest point of the 

 line (1900 fathoms) was found about 100 miles southwest of Mariato 



VOL. XLVI. — NO. 4 5 



