4 
many miles; generally these islands present abrupt, clear 
shores, and may be approached with safety. The islands in the 
Santa Barbara channel afford good anchorage ; fuel, water and 
provisions are obtainable. 
The Farralones, a group of high, sterile rocks, bearing S. W. 
nearly twenty-five miles from the Golden Gate. During the 
spring months millions of birds are seen hovering around these 
islets ; many eggs are annually gathered there. Fierce conflicts 
and even bloodshed have been perpetrated for the periodical 
egg crop ; the strong arm of power has finally quieted the san¬ 
guinary broils, the title to these islands has been adjudicated, 
and “ peace reigns again in Warsaw.” 
Tatoosh is the most northerly island on the “ old north-west 
coast,” is flat-topped, without trees or shrubbery, its sides are 
nearly perpendicular, soaring 100 feet above the sea. 
The temperature of the North Pacific ocean ranges from 52° 
to 54°, much colder than the Atlantic on corresponding para- 
lells. A stream of warmer water washes the shores of Santa 
Barbara ; the people residing along these shores appreciate this 
boon, and may be seen on summer evenings in crowds enjoying 
the cheap luxury of sea bathing — a luxury generally denied the 
less favored people settled along the more northern coast. 
Winds. For nine months in each year, from March to No¬ 
vember, the wind blows regularly from the north-west along the 
coast with the regularity of trade winds. In February this sea 
breeze comes in during afternoon and continues till midnight; 
during May, June and July this wind is strong, and declines 
with the sun ; in August and September it blows with certainty; 
in October it fans weaker, and seldom extends beyond the 50°. 
During the prevalence of these winds the weather is temperate 
and bracing; heavy gales are not common on our coast. 
“ From April to October, inclusive, the prevailing wind is from 
the north-west, changing to west in valleys opening upon the 
coast, but in no case so strongly as through the Golden Gate. 
During the summer the wind sets in strong about 10, a. m., 
increasing until nearly sunset when it begins to die away.”— 
Davidson. 
From October till January the wind prevails generally from 
the westward; on approaching the coast and striking against 
the coast range of mountains it deflects to the north-west and 
Wows parallel to the shore. This wind comes with much force 
