398 REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [28] 



us pratique. He informed us that cholera was prevalent in many places 

 in Chili, but Lota was considered healthy. Such precautions were 

 adopted as the surgeon considered necessary, and we had the satisfac- 

 tion of leaving the country without a case of sickness of any kind. 



From a distance the several anchorages in the bay looked much alike, 

 but on nearer approach Lota was recognized by the light-house near 

 the extreme point of the elevated peninsula which forms the northern 

 boundary of the bay. It is a conspicuous object, standing in the Oou- 

 siiio Park, its white cylindrical tower contrasting strongly with the two 

 huge chimneys of the smelting works and the dark background of hills 

 in rear of the town. The peninsula itself, on which stands the splendid 

 mansion of the Cousiiios, surrounded by its beautiful park-like grounds 

 and heavily wooded avenues, is an unmistakable landmark. There are 

 several piers, and it might puzzle a stranger to recognize the one re- 

 ferred to in the sailing directions. It is the first on entering the bay, 

 is of iron, and belongs to the coal mines. Others will be seen near the 

 smelting works, and a little farther on a breakwater is in process of 

 construction, its dark sides contrasting with the white sand beach in 

 front of the town. 



I returned the call of the captain of the port on the following day. 

 We coaled ship on the 17th and 18th, taking on board 171 tons. There 

 was a thick fog during the morning of the 19th, but it cleared about 11 

 a. m., and at meridian we left the harbor and steamed to Toin6, where 

 we anchored at 5.50 p. m. The naturalists made some collections in 

 Lota, and used the seine about the beaches of Tome ; otherwise there 

 was but little communication with the shore. 



Tome, Chili, to Panama. — We were under way at 2 p. in., February 

 20, and when clear of the land made sail to a fresh southerly breeze, 

 which, with the consumption of 10 tons of Lota coal, gave us a speed of 

 200 miles or more per day. 



We first saw flying-fish in the Pacific in 33° S. latitude. Albatrosses 

 were still following us and an occasional petrel was seen. A sparrow 

 hawk hovered about the ship for several hours, lighting on spars and 

 rigging. A school of sperm whales was seen moving leisurely about, and 

 patches of floating kelp were passed at frequent intervals through the 

 day. We carried southerly winds until February 22, latitude 30° S., when 

 it fell calm and we began to look for the SB. trades. The surface tem- 

 perature rose from 59° in Lota to 75° at meridian, indicating that we 

 were to the westward of the Humboldt current. 



The surface net was put over on the evening of the 24th, in about 

 23° S., with fair success. Porpoises played about the vessel for a few 

 minutes, but kept out of the reach of harpoons. Albatrosses and -gulls 

 had left us, and two or three species of petrels were the only birds seen 

 during the day. Nothing of interest occurred until the following morn- 

 ing, when half a dozen or more fish were discovered following the ves- 

 sel. They were about 18 inches in length, their bodies round and slim, 



