APPENDICES. 603 
doubts on this point arise, on any portion of the line, in the minds of 
the Commissioners. The aggregate extent of survey necessary to fix 
the line, will scarcely fall short of two thousand or two thousand five 
hundred miles. .Every one connected with this survey will then have 
as much as they can possibly attend to in performing the duties imme- 
diately connected with the boundary line, which should be completed 
at as early a period as possible. 
Besides these considerations of expediency, I cannot perceive how 
the expenses which would attend the accomplishment of Lieutenant 
Strain’s project, could be legitimately drawn from the appropriations 
granted by Congress for the boundary survey. 
The Gulf of California hes far from the line of boundary, and in 
territory belonging exclusively to Mexico, and not within the jurisdic- 
tion, therefore, of the United States. To attempt a minute survey of 
this gulf, under the pretence of its being an adjunct operation to the 
boundary survey, would undoubtedly arouse the suspicions of Mexico, 
and give offence to that Republic. 
It is true, that by the provisions of the late treaty our citizens have 
the right of ingress and egress through the Gulf of California; and it 
is not improbable, that if the proposition were made to the Mexican 
government through the proper channel, she might be disposed to enter 
into a joint arrangement with our government for an accurate hydro- 
graphic survey of the gulf; an undertaking that would be equally 
honorable to both governments, and highly advantageous to the com- 
merce of both people. But in such an event, I should think it highly 
expedient that so important an operation should, on our side, be placed 
under the direction of one of the organized corps of the government, 
maintained for such purposes, and provided with all the necessary appa- 
ratus and scientific experience which are necessary to success. 
I find by the latest maps we have of California, that the area of this 
gulf is not less than sixty-two thousand square miles. To acomplish a 
survey of it in a manner to satisfy the requirements of commerce would, 
to say the least, occupy several years; and it would probably cost very 
nearly as much as has been appropriated for the whole boundary survey, 
perhaps even more. 
If a mere reconnoissance of the gulf is proposed, I will remark that 
Mr. Gray, the United States Surveyor, informed me, on his arrival here, 
that General Persifer Smith had already detailed an officer and supplied 
