408 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [38] 



the prevailing winds, the swell being partially broken by projecting 

 points and small islands. It is a good anchorage with easterly winds, 

 and may be recognized by the following landmarks. Albany Island is 

 conspicuous, being lighter in color than its surroundings, and abreast 

 of it are bold lava cliffs which extend to a short stretch of white sand 

 beach at the bottom of the bay. The southern extremity is marked by 

 a point having a double peak from which extends a barren lava-covered 

 belt, resembling that described on Albemarle . Island. Small salt 

 lagoons lie just back of the sand beach. To make the anchorage it is 

 only necessary to stand in for the center of the white saud beach, anch- 

 oring in any depth desired. The watering place mentioned is on a 

 point nearl 3' abreast of Albany Island, and, during the latter part of 

 the rainy season, furnishes a good supply, but at other times the flow 

 is either very small, or fails altogether. The supply is so limited and 

 uncertain that the orchilla pickers who visit the island periodically do 

 not depend upon it. The general aspect north and east of the bay was 

 fresh and green, and a fringe of mangroves surrounding the lagoons 

 gave that portion of the bay a particularly attractive appearance, while 

 to the southward was a barren waste. 



We left James Bay on the morning of the 12th, and, after a run of 

 about six hours, anchored in Conway Bay in G fatboms, white sand and 

 stones. Several parties of collectors left the ship, and volunteer fisher- 

 men soon had lines over the rail, where several species of fish were taken. 



Indefatigable Island is circular in form and about 20 miles in diame- 

 ter, with a central cone, in the basin of which lies a vast tract of arable, 

 well watered land, capable of growing all the tropical and semi-tropical 

 products in great perfection. Its natural resources are greater than 

 any other island in the group, yet it is uninhabited and wholly unde- 

 veloped. The low lands are devoid of water, and, like the other islands, 

 barren and desolate during the dry season, the rain only bringing life 

 to the bushes and stunted trees, which find a precarious existence 

 among the lava bowlders and scoria. To render the fertile lands of 

 the central elevated region available it would be necessary to con- 

 struct a road G or 8 miles in length to connect it with the sea. 



Conway Bay lies on the west end of the island and is easily recog- 

 nized by the Guy Fawkes Islands to the northward and Eden Island 

 to the southward. It is protected from the prevailing winds, and, in 

 that region of almost universally fine weather, it is a good anchorage. 



We were under way at 5.30 on the morning of the 13th and at 6.55 

 anchored in 15 fathoms, sand and stones, in an open bay on the north- 

 east side of Duncan Island. We were off a conspicuous gorge in the 

 mountain side, and about 200 yards to the southward of a small islet 

 which lay directly in front of it, and about 50 yards from the shore. 

 Its surface was covered with bushes and other vegetation, which dis- 

 tinguishes it from rocks further to the southward. There was an ex- 

 cellent landing place for boats inside of the islet. 



The general appearance of Duncan Island was green, bushes and 



