144 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



several species of starfish are common, but not abundant, and there 

 are 4 or 5 species of sea-urchins and several holothurians. A species 

 of GrapsidcE' is common about the rocks along the shore and exposed 

 on the reefs, and by raising the coral fragments and breaking them 

 in pieces several small crabs were found, together with stomatopods 

 and shrimps and prawns and other species of Crustacea, and a num- 

 ber of worms were collected in the same manner, although less exten- 

 sively than in the Paumotus. 



Tahiti proved interesting and attractive, especially on the second 

 visit, after the monotony of the atolls of the Paumotus, and it was 

 left with some regret on the morning of November 15. 



Some of the Leeward Islands of the Society group were visited, with 

 anchorages overnight at Tahaa and Bora Bora, and a short stop was 

 made at Aitutake, in the Cook group. The Leeward Islands, like the 

 rest of the Society group, consist of bold and picturesque volcanic 

 peaks skirted by coral reefs and reef islets on a broad shore platform, 

 and Aitutaki resembles them, but its peaks are low and its structural 

 features in general on a smaller scale. 



The next place visited was Nine, an isolated, elevated, coral island, 

 with bold precipitous terraced walls, rising to a height of from 150 to 

 200 feet above the sea. The surface of the island is comparatively 

 level and less elaborately sculptured by erosion than is Makatea, which 

 it resembles in a general way. The vegetation is far inferior in 

 luxuriance and variety to that of the Society Islands, but excels that 

 of the atolls of the Paumotus. Some attempt has been made to raise 

 sugar, but the fields did not look promising. 



From Nine the Albatross steamed to latitude 21° 18' S., longitude 

 173° 31' W., where a sounding and Blake trawl haul were made in 

 4,173 fathoms, the greatest depth at which a trawl has ever been used. 

 A species of sponge, allied to a form before known only from com- 

 paratively shallow water, was taken. In latitude 21° 18' S., longitude 

 173° 51' W., a sounding of 4,540 fathoms was obtained. 



Early in the morning of November 28 the magnificent cliffs of Eua 

 were sighted, and just before noon, after coasting the east, south, and 

 part of the west shores of the island, anchor was dropped in English 

 Roads, off Ohonua village. The east side of Eua presents the liigh- 

 est and finest coralliferous limestone cliffs seen during the cruise, 

 and they excited the admiration of all on board. Eua was left on the 

 following morning after an examination of its general features, and 

 a short run was made to Nukalofa, the capital of the Tonga Islands, 

 where the members of the expedition were kindlj^ received by King 

 George, the officers of his government, and the people. The govern- 

 ment of the Tonga group is a limited monarchy under the control of 

 the natives, and the islands appear to be well conducted and orderly. 

 Tongatabu, on which the capital is situated, is somewhat elevated in 

 its southern part, but slopes gradually away to the northward, where 

 it is continued over the plateau as a number of small islets and reefs. 



