Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-11-02
The LObOs Islands.


Peruvian Governmen, and our own attach
some importance 10 these islands at the pres
ent lime, we publish from Capt. MoRRELL' s
book of voyages, the following account OF
his visit to them. The reader will remem.
Der lha, these islands are some twenty or
twenty. five miles distant from the coast of
Peru, are valuable only for their guano, and
the question is, whether they belong to Peru
or not. Ii they do. our vessels cannot take
guano there, without paying the high price
demanded by The Peruvian Government.
Mr.. MoRRELL says: t..
September 9ih. 1323.-We arrived al Lo.
bos Afuero. or ouier Lubos, al /, P. NJ, we
anchored in six fathoms of water, sandy
bottom, in fine harbor, on the north west
side of The island; and at 2. P NJ, sent the
boats on shore. in search of seals, which
returned al Z, P. NJ, with only twenty light
fur,skns, being all that could be procured
here a, this time.
This island is in la. deg. SO min. S.,
long. 80 deg. AZ min. w. The harbor is
fine and commodious, in which fifty ships
might lie in safety all the year round.
Those who wish TO anchor here should pass
to the south Of the island, then haul round
the west end towards the north until the bay
opens, when they may beat up The harbor
in safety, by keeping lookout for single
rock in the north part Of the bay, nearly
midway between lis Two outer points, but
rather inclining TO the north poinI. This
rock may be timely discovered from the
masthead, though i. is covered seven feet
deep al low water. Ships should not ap.
proach The eastern part Of the island nearer
then a mile there being several sunken
rocks in that direction. Fish may be caught
here in abundance, and eggs are plenty in
the proper season. The island is moder.
aiey elevated, may be seen six OF seven
leagues in clear weather, and has rugged
appearance, without vegetation or fresh wa.
ter, except during the rainy season.
September 10h.-We next visited the in
ner or northern island, called Lobos de Ter
ra, where we anchored on Wednesday, al
7 o'clock, A. NJ, in four lalhoms of wafer.
at the head of small bay, on The north par,
of the island. At o'clock, A. NJ sent The
boat in search Of seals.
This island is in lat 6 deg. "a min. S /,
long. 80 min. As deg w., variation deg.
As min. caslery. On the north side is q
safe and convenient harbor, formed by an
island oc considerable length on the west,
separated by very narrow passage suitable
only for boats. The south end OF this
small island forms the south and west paris
OF the harbor. This is q delightful bay,
with smooth wafer, level beach and pleasant
prospects. An abundance Of eggs can be-
Obtained here in the month of December,
IRON the rookerieS of aquatic birds. Lobos
de Terra is much longer Than the southern
or outer Lobos; its surface is not so much
elevated, but more even and level. There
are not so many rocks and isets around il,
and it is more free from changes. Fur and
hair seals are found here in considerable
numbers, and a variety Of scale fish may be
caught with hooks and line. IL lies seven
leagues from The muin land, from whence il
may always be seen in clear weather.
The Indians sometimes visit these islands
in large parties, on fishing excursions or
rrocs; and frequently stay three or four
weeks. have always found them 10 be
very civil and acc ommodaling; having fre-
quenlly received kind offices al their hands,
such as presents Of fruit, vegetables, &C.,
from the main. They always bring their
fresh water with them, as there is none 10
be found on the islands, which are covered
with sand, rocks. and The dung Of aquatic
birds; the auer sufficient To load thousands
Of ships, having been accumulated for un.
told ages. |, is called guannar by the
Spanio,ds, and is probably tho richest ma
nure in the world. ..........
The following extract from MIR. WEB
srER's letter 10 the Charge d'Atfairs of Pc
ru, will show The present condition Of the
dispute with that government. Mr.. WEB.
sTER, after referring to the discovery Of the
ISIand--to the fact tha, the American fish.
ling vessels had always used--lo the con,ro'
versies of other nations respecting them
and to their distance Of some go or 25 miles
5 from The Peruvian coast, says;
.As,o the claim of Peru TO those Islands,
/ foul.ded ON 1Ihe law Of proximity. The ques'
lion will appear 10 be free Of doubt. The
welt.seuled rule of modern pubic law on
!, this point is, that the right Of Jurisdiction O
/, any nation whose territories may border or