GENERAL SUMMARY. 
117 
as the total cost.* But whatever mode of improvement the com- 
pany may think proper to adopt, it is enough for present purposes 
to know that Ventosa may now be used without artificial works, 
as previously stated. i 
Capt. Mott, of the " Gold Hunter," to whose letter reference 
has already been made, says of Yentosa : 
Steamer Gold Hunter, i 
Port Ventosa, April 11, 1851. f 
My Dear Sir : — I beg to return you many thanks for the tracing of this 
port which you so kindly sent me, and which I received on my return from the 
Boca Barra. I must confess I was much disappointed with that place. In- 
stead of twenty-three feet on the bar, as marked on Moro's chart, I found but 
eight ; and on the inner bar, where eight and a half feet are marked, but one 
and a half at high water, and quite dry at low. I am convinced that no use 
whatever can be made of the Boca Barra as a port for any class of vessels, for 
in addition to the heavy breakers constantly raging on the bar, in which 
my boat, a fine large sea-boat, was capsized, and the crew narrowly es- 
caped being devoured by sharks, this part of the lake is crossed in all direc- 
tins with shoals and sand-pits, rendering it unnavigable for the smallest 
vessels. 
I am much pleased with this Port Ventosa. The holding ground is excel- 
lent, and the depth of six and seven fathoms almost all over the bay very con- 
venient. I see nothing wanting but a breakwater carried out some 500 or 600 
yards from the outer point of the Moro Rock, to protect the landing from the 
surf, to make it an excellent port. During the four days we have been here 
we have had two of fresh southerly winds, and two of strong northers. The 
former did not agitate the sea much, and the latter, though blowing very 
strong, has not straightened out the chains. We are still riding by the bight 
which is buried in the clay bottom. 
T T Mott. 
P. E. Trastotjr, Esq., Tehuantepec. 
But under any circumstances Yentosa can be improved at an 
expense comparatively insignificant, and in such a manner as to 
enable ships to receive and discharge their cargoes directly 
from the shore. 
In closing the operations of the survey, I cannot omit mention- 
ing, in terms of commendation, the indefatigable zeal and un- 
* An idea of this plan for improvement has been traced on Mr. Trastour's map 
of La Ventosa. 
