96 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
at its moath shows a specific gravity of 1.021587. Two creeks entering the channel 
lower down also contain oysters, which are said to cover the bottom of one of them ■ 
for a distance of a quarter of a mile. Along this part of the main channel, the depth • 
varies from 10 to 19 feet, and the bottom consists of sand covered with mud. 
A short distance above the mouth of the New San Gabriel River, the channel 
widens rapidly and becomes shallower, the depth varying from 6 to S feet, with a bot- 
tom of mud and sand and broken shells. Just above the mouth of the river, the 
specific gravity was 1.015890, and opposite the mouth 1.011948. It is evident that at 
high tide much fresh water must be backed up into the main channels, and our specific 
gravities, taken at low water, show a minimum amount of fresh water for that time ' 
of year. 
The river is said to average 6 feet in depth for a distance of 5 or 6 mile^, the tide 
backing up for the entire distance. The bottom is reported to be sand, with some mud. 
During the dry season the river ceases to flow in its lower course, but the bay is said to : 
derive a constant supply of fresh water from the numerous springs flowing into it. At 
the time of our visit about 5 feet of water was found on the bar. 
Newport Bay, distant about 10 miles from Santa Ana, is the estuary into which 
flows the Santa Ana River (see plate XXXII). It is a much larger body of water than 
Alamitos Bay. In its lower portion it is about one-half mile wide, but it narrows at it^ 
entrance and in its upper part. Near the mouth of the river, there is sufhcient water 
on the bar at high tide to admit the passage of small steamers, but the bar is con- 
stantly shifting and is unreliable. The bottom of the bay consists of clean hard sand, 
with little or no admixture of mud. Near the mouth of the river, flats are exposed 
fully 2 miles wide, the sand of which they are composed being covered with a thin 
layer of mud. 
From the head of the bay, a channel known as San Joaquin Bay extends eastward 
for 2 or 3 miles, winding among the hills. The bottom of this channel is of mud, 
very soft in spots, but with many banks of native oysters, which reach a large size. 
Near the head of San Joaquin Bay, fresh water is said to enter from springs having a 
constant flow throughout the year; but the amount obtained from this source is appar-, 
ently small. 
Aside from springs, the fresh-water supply of Newport Bay is precarious, being 
wholly derived from the Santa Ana River. During the dry season, the water of this 
stream is drawn off for irrigation purposes and it becomes dry in its lower course for 
at least seven mouths in the year. At the time of our visit, in the midst of the rainy 
season, the temperature of the water was 60° Fahr., and the specific gravity at medium 
high water off the mouth of the river 1.024000. At two points farther down the bay 
the temperature was the same, and the specific gravity 1.023000 and 1.024000. Later, 
off the mouth of the river, at low water, the specific gravity was 1.01540. 
On the wide sand-bar lying between the western shore of the bay and tbe ocean 
beach, a well dug into the sand to a depth of 9 or 10 feet furnishes fresh water for a 
sportsman’s hotel located at that point. Salt water is, of course, struck at a depth of 
a few feet more. On this bar a pond of salt water produces native oysters of large size, 
said to be of good flavor. 
Between Alamitos andNewport Bays, lie Anaheim Bay and the mouth of Los Bolsos 
Creek. The former is said to have a considerable amount of fresh water rising into 
it the year round, but has no stream entering it. The mouth of Los Bolsos Creek is 
an estuary as large as Alamitos Bay, and probably has a more constant supply of 
