EXPLANATION OF THE SKETCH OF THE ISLANDS OF ST. CA~ 

 THARINES AND ALVARADO. 



(See the Plate of Head-Lands.) 



At the time these appearances were sketched, we were 

 in fifty fathoms of water; the ground was soft blue mud, 

 very tenacious, and of an almost impalpable grain. The 

 wind was very light and variable, and much of our progress 

 toward the entrance of the sound we were obliged to make 

 by beating ; consequently, we had the better opportunity 

 for proving the soundings. Our aim, in fetching the en- 

 trance, was to reach, as near as we could with safety, the 

 south point of Alvarado. The lead, while on either tack, 

 was kept constantly going ; the ground was uniformly of the 

 same quality, and the soundings very gradually decreased. 

 When we had arrived between the northern point of St. 

 Catharines and the southern point of Alvarado, the dis- 

 tance between them being about two and three quarter 

 miles, and the latter point about one mile distant from the 

 ship, we found the depth of the water to be twelve and 

 three quarter fathoms, and the ground of the same quality 

 as before, except its being a little harder, and intermixed 

 with some coarse white grains of sand. Having passed 

 these points, we proceeded, about midway between the 

 shores, toward fort Santa Cruz, a small island close to the 

 main land. Bringing this fort to bear, per compass, S. W« 

 quarter S., distant three and a half miles, and fort Ponte 

 Groce, S. E., distant about two miles, we came to, and 

 anchored in six and a half fathoms of water ; the sound- 

 ings, all along, having preserved the character of remark- 

 able regularity. On the following morning we weighed, 

 passed by fort Santa Cruz, came to and anchored in 

 five and a half fathoms of water ; when fort Santa Cruz 

 bore, per compass, N. three quarters E., distant three quar- 

 ters of a mile ; fort Ponte Groce, E. N. E. half E., distant se- 

 ven miles ; fort Ratonia, S. by E. half E., distant four miles ; 

 and the highest point of Alvarado, N. E. quarter N., dis- 

 tant thirteen miles. The town of St, Miguel, on the main. 



