poiſes, and black-fiſh: the latter were innumerable as we approached the land.
October 12.We cruized off this coaſt till the twelfth, ſeeing only the kind of fiſh already mentioned, with the addition of ſome fin-back and hump-back whales; ſo that we had no inducement to remain there, after we had aſcertained that the ſpecies of whale on this coaſt is of no value. Our cruiſing ground was between the Latitudes 23° and 25°, and Longitude 112° and 113°, off a remarkable mountain near Cape St. Lazarus; to which I have given the ſame name: I make it to be in Latitude 25° 15′, and Longitude 112° 20′. To the South of it, is very low land, till within a few leagues of Cape St. Lucas, which makes the South point of California, when the land riſes to ſuch an eminence, as to be ſeen at the diſtance of twenty leagues: but the Cape itſelf is of a very moderate height. Though the weather was fair and pleaſant, it was ſo hazy while we were on this low and dangerous coaſt, as to require a continual employment of the lead. We frequently got ſoundings with ſeventy fathoms of line at the diſtance of nine leagues from the ſhore.
I am ready to confeſs, that I was deceived reſpecting the ſpecies of whale which I ſaw when I was