GENERAL REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS IN PORTO RICO. 
13 
it as averaging 220 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and having a minimum discharge of 16,000 
second-feet. The Rio Loiza was also examined at the hacienda of Senor Nicolas 
Quinones, about 2 miles to the east of Caguas, where it is a considerable stream, 
from 40 to 100 feet wide, with a rather swift current. The depth is in most places 
less than 3 or 4 feet, though there are places of greater depth. There is a good ford 
at the hacienda. The bed of the stream is in most places of sand or gravel, though 
some muddy reaches were observed, and rock bottom occurs where the stream cuts 
against a hill. Usually one of the shores is low, sloping up gradually 2 to 5 feet to 
a level bottom covered with meadows and fields of tobacco and cane. On the other 
side the shore rises abruptly into wooded mountains of moderate height. At the 
hacienda there is low bottom land on each side. 
The Rio Caguitas , a tributary of the Rio Loiza, is crossed twice by the Caguas- 
Aguas Buenas road just west of Caguas; it then flows northward and eastward 
around the town and joins the Rio Loiza near the hacienda of Senor Quinones, the 
road to which crosses it several times. It was examined throughout most of its 
length from the Aguas Buenas road to its mouth. It is a rather pretty stream, 30 
or 40 feet wide and from a few inches to 3.5 feet deep, with much deeper pools at 
intervals. The shores are usually of clay, sometimes of gravel, one shore generally 
high, the other low and spreading away into low level river bottom. The bed of the 
stream is of sand or mud in the more quiet and deeper reaches and of fine gravel 
where there is some current. The water appears clear and pure and there is usually 
a fairly strong current. The flow is estimated at 50 second-feet. 
On the gravel bars and along the edges was considerable aquatic vegetation, 
among which were obtained specimens of 4 fresh-water crustaceans, including a 
sword-shrimp (Xiphocaris elongate s), 2 prawns (Bithynis jamaicensis and B. olfersi ! , 
the latter numerous), and a crab ( Epilobocera sinuatifrons). 
The temperature of the water at the Aguas Buenas ford at 11 a. m. , January 9, 
was 71°, when that of the air was 77°. 
The Rio Turabo, another tributary of the Rio Loiza, was examined by Mr. Wilson 
where it is crossed by the military road near Caguas, and found to be similar to the 
Caguitas in character and volume. 
Bio Bayamon. — This river was examined in the vicinity of the city of Bayamon, 
and also at its mouth at Palo Seco. It is a stream of some size, having its head- 
waters near Cidra, on the north side of the divide between Cayey and Aguas Buenas. 
It flows nearly north, passing just west of Aguas Buenas and by Bayamon, entering 
the sea near Palo Seco, about 2 miles from San Juan. At Bayamon it is perhaps 35 
to 50 feet in average width, with a depth varying from a few inches to 3 or 4 feet. 
The current is strong, the low banks are of red clay, and the water is usually more 
or less muddy. The bottom of the stream is chiefly of tough clay or gravel and clay. 
At the town of Bayamon is a dam which interferes with the free movement of fish. 
Rio Arecibo. — This stream rises in the Cordillera Central about Ad juntas and 
flows northward to the sea at Arecibo. Near Adjuntas, at an elevation of 1,440 feet, 
it has a minimum discharge of 40 second-feet. A few miles below, at Utuado, its dis- 
charge is 100 second-feet. Lower down it receives as tributaries Rio Don Alonzo, 
Rio Tanama, and other smaller streams, which greatly increase its size. 
Rio Culebrinas. — This is a stream of moderate size, rising between Lares and San 
Sebastian and flowing westward into the sea just below Aguadilla. Near San Sebas- 
