INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
469 
times in a salt-water lagoon on the western side of the island, securing 
about a barrel of anchovies and some other species. A large fish was 
also attracted by the fish thrown back in the water, but it evaded all 
attempts at capture. About 25 miles south of Carmen Island we 
sighted a school of fish which had the appearance of mackerel, but 
they were too far distant to determine their character. A little after 
dark we anchored off the southern side of Carmen Island. The electric 
light was displayed at the surface and light fishing lines were thrown 
over. A number of chub mackerel and other species were caught by 
this means, the largest of the mackerel measuring 13f inches in length. 
The most of them were split and gibbed, and it was discovered that 
nearly all were males. The milt was about as far developed as in the 
specimens taken at Socorro Island. The spawning season probably 
occurs sometime during the latter part of the spring or the first part of 
summer. A portion of the following day was occupied in hauling the 
seine on a beautiful beach in Salinas Bay where we were at anchor, and 
many kinds of fish were taken. Hand-line fishing proved a failure. 
Our next* stopping-place was Conception Bay where hand-line fishing 
and seining were carried on during the morning. Only two sharks 
were captured with the hand lines, but several interesting species were 
collected with the seine on a coral and shelly beach at the northern 
side and near the entrance of the bay. In the afternoon we anchored 
off the mouth of Mulege River, and two seining parties were kept at 
work on the shore during the remainder of the day. Mullet and red 
snappers were taken in considerable numbers. Three miles -up the 
river there is a mining town with about 4,000 inhabitants. Two small 
schooners and a sloop were anchored at the mouth of the river. They 
make regular trips to La Paz and G-uaymas. The largest schooner was 
of 33 tons register ; she was built in San Francisco at a cost of $4,500. 
She was of fair model and neatly rigged, being the best fitted and 
rigged schooner I had yet seen on the Pacific coast, but like most of 
the schooners on this coast she carried no gaff to her mainsail. Her 
beam was 18 feet, depth 54 feet, draft feet. The other two vessels 
were of Mexican build. March 20 we arrived off Guay mas Harbor, and 
the next morning steamed up to the city. 
Guaymas .— The fish market at Guaymas is but little superior to that 
at La Paz. The French fisherman formerly resident at La Paz and 
several Italians supply the town with fish. Three-fourths of a cent per 
pound was the standing price for all kinds of fish during our stay at 
the place. Shipments are sometimes made to the interior of the State 
and frequently to the southern part of Arizona. Generally 3 and 4 
cents a pound are realized from such shipments. 
All fish taken during the winter months are caught with hook and 
line, but in summer seines only are used. This change is made to avoid 
the destruction of the gear by sharks. Many sea bass (Cynoscion mac - 
donaldi) are obtained with lines; they are of large size, sometimes reach- 
