196 COAST OF CALIFORNIA. [1825 



March 27th. — This island, which is situated about one hundred and 

 eighty miles from the .shore, on the western coast of North America, 

 in the same latitude as New-Orleans, is about twenty miles in circum- 

 ference, and uninhabited. From unerring indications, there is no doubt 

 that it has once been volcanic ; it is very barren on its south end, but 

 in the northern part there are several fertile valleys, and the mountains 

 contain vegetation. Wood and water may be had here from a small 

 cove on the north-east side of the island, and goat's flesh may be ob- 

 tained for the trouble of shooting the animal. 



The island is high, with bluff shores on the north and west sides, and 

 may be seen from the mast-head, in clear weather, at the distance of 

 fifteen leagues. The shores are free from dangers one-fourth of a 

 mile from the island. The only anchorage is on the south-east side, 

 in a small cove, formed by a few rocky islets that lie off in that direc- 

 tion. Here vessels may anchor in seven fathoms of water, sheltered 

 from all winds, excepting from the south-east to east-north-east, which 

 seldom blow here. We lay here three days, during which time we 

 took a number of fur-seals. 



April 2d. — On Friday, the 1st of April, we got under way, and 

 steered for Cerros Island, with the wind from north-north-west ; and 

 on the following day, at six o'clock, A. M., we were close in with its 

 eastern side. At seven the boats were sent round the island, and re- 

 turned without finding either seals or sea-elephants. 



This island, as it is called, is a mere pile of rocks, of volcanic 

 origin — high and barren. It is about eight miles in circumference, and 

 only four miles from the western shore of the peninsula of Old Cali- 

 fornia, a little north of Hermoso Point. The passage between this 

 point and the island is clear of dangers, giving the former a berth 

 of half a mile, to avoid some sunken rocks that lie about that distance 

 off-shore, in a north-north-west direction. 



The anchorage on the east side of the island is in lat. 27° 52' N., 

 long. 114° 37' W., and sheltered from the prevailing winds, which 

 generally blow direct along shore. From the 1st of March to the 1st 

 of November the winds blow from the north-west, attended with beau- 

 tiful weather; and during this season there is seldom any rain. But 

 from November to March the winds frequently blow with violence 

 from the south-east and south-south-west, attended with torrents of 

 rain, which renders the navigation of this coast very unpleasant during 

 the winter season. In the summer months the wind sometimes hauls 

 round to the south-east ; but it is always very light at that season of 

 the year. 



There are many fine fish to be caught around this island, and it was 

 formerly a great resort for sea-elephants and fur-seals ; but it now ap- 

 pears to be entirely abandoned by these animals. A few aquatic birds 

 still continue to visit here in the laying and incubation season ; but we 

 saw no land-birds. There is a small rocky island lying off the north- 

 west side of Cerros, about two miles' distance ; but there is no danger 

 between the two islands. 



April 6th. — On Monday, the 4th, we took a slant of wind from the 

 north-east, off the land, and steered for St. Francis's Bay, where we 



