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Show WondertuI Voyage . ot tke Altatross THE United States steamer Albatross, Alba-tross, with a corps of scientific men on board, has just completed complet-ed an unusually interesting expedition ex-pedition down the southern California coast, around the peninsula, and back to San Francisco. The results of this voyage of discov-ery discov-ery and research were satisfactory to all concerned. Tho party, in addition to the chief, Dr. C. H. Townsend, actine director of tho American Museum of Natural History in New York, included Dr. J. N. Eosc of tho National Museum in Washington, botanist; Dr. Paul Bartsch. also of the National Musoum. zoologist; Waldo Schmidt, assistant uaturalist of the Albatross, and Messrs. Anthonv and Osborn, well known west coast collectors. Tho cruise lasted from March 1 to April 28. The party cruised along tho coast of Lower California, stops being made at Guadalupe island, San Benito, San Bar-tolomc Bar-tolomc bay, Bay San Cristobal, St. Roquc island, Point Abro.jos and many other places, nnd then passed into the Gulf of California, going as far as Tiburon and Angel do la Guarda is lands. Kill Elephant Seals. Severnl of tho adult elephant, seals were killed at Guadalupe island, brought aboard the ship and put in brine, while six of the younger animals, four males and two females, were captured cap-tured alive. The adult elephant aeal is ubout twenty-two feet Jong and has a snout or nose closely resembling the trunk of the elephant, from which it derives its name. Guadalupe island offers excellent opportunities op-portunities for exploration and zoological zoologi-cal research. Hero also was obtained a collection of line specimens of many birds, mollufiks and plants. Tho island has peculiarities of its own, and the party found animal and marine life not closely related to that on the mainland. "Fpllowing along the coast, landing frequently, and making in tho course of tho trip tweiity-Gvc deep sea hauls, rauginq from -100 to 1071 fathoms, many interesting kinds of fish, crustaceans, crus-taceans, mollusks and sponges were brought to tho surface. Brought up with the doc-pest, haul, that of (3426 foot, were seven species of deep-sea fish, five kinds of crimson prawn, sevoral with blue oges, one largo pycuognid, many worms living in soft tubes, one groat star fish, several brittle stars and numerous nu-merous other specimens. In Magdalena bay was found many interesting species of marine vertebrates. verte-brates. Hero tho scientists collected a quantity of shallow water specimens. At Angel do la Guarda, Tiburon and St, Esteban islands, they found many lizards of tho genera Sauromalus and Ctenosaurn. Wonderful Salt Pond. On Carmen island thoy encountered a wonderful salt pond, on which was a coating between four and fivo inches thick. This crust is removed in large enkes, which are ground to tho' fineness fine-ness of ordinary commercial salt. The salt is shipped from the island in large quantities. What is believed to bo a new species of mountain sheep was discovered on the west side of Conception Bay. Tho scientists, however, were unable to get closo enough to capture any of the sheep, but three sets of jiorns were obtained ob-tained from local hunters. Near Augel do la Guarda island a stick of dynamite was exploded, in the water, killing or stunning a largo number num-ber of fish which floated to tho sur-' face. So many came to the top of the water that it proved a .bip task to gather in the different specimens. Tiburon island also proved a fertile ground for investigation. Many things of unusual interest were found there, the island never having boon explored since Admiral Dewey years ago made tho original survey. He was thou a captain in command of tho United States steamship Narragansct. Important Impor-tant investigations were also made at La Paz, the great gathering grouud and shipping place for pearls. On the way back to San Francisco the ship touched at Santa Cataliua island, is-land, and at San Joao and inanj' other points along tho coast. ' Abandons Panama Trip. The Albatross, which bolonga to the United States Bureau of. Fisheries, i& furnished with every facility for an expedition ex-pedition of this kind. Large specimens wero easily brought aboard the boat, crated and shipped for packing. Almost Al-most no troublo was experienced in .taking care of tho young elephant seals, It was not found necessary to keep them in a tank or other receptacle. Ono carload of theso specimens has arrived in Now York nnd tho others are ospoctcd in a few days. After the ship reached port, Dr. Bartsch, under orders froh tho National Museum, started for tho Isthmus o'f Panama to pursue further research, wo'rk, but on account of the insurrection insurrec-tion in Mexico ho was obliged to aban-. cfbn tho attempt and return to Washington. Wash-ington. The botanical collections obtained on tho voyage are to .bo divided between tho Nationnl Museum and the .New York Botanical Gardens. Altogether moro than 000 herbarium specimens wero gathered, chief among theso being the cacti, many of which wore of con sidorablc size and unusual interest. |