The herald., 1894-09-05
AT SAN CLEMENTE.

hAperlohcss OF Two Naturaliet9 In
Search of Specimens.
San Diego Union: "Give wsyI Give
way there lively !" There was need OF
this emphatic order from Lieutenant
West of the revenue cutter Wolcott, as
his crew in the long boat attempted to
land DR.. Edgar A. Mearns. U. S. A.,
and Prof. Brandegee through the tre.
mendous surf which was pounding the
shore of San Clemente island last week.
The blue jackets did their duty. The
scientists were landed in safety.
The long boat is not good surf boat,
and Lieutenant West displayed excel
lent seamsnship in landing without
mishap. The effort to return to the ship
resulted d isastrously. Running the
boat seaward on receding wave the
hardy seamen we're repeatedly repulsed
by incoming seas. The huge breakers
rolled boat and men over and over like
peas in a pot of boiling water, spelling
the good clothes of the lsndsmen and
severely trying the genial temper of
Lieutenant West. After working hard
for several hours the boat wac launched
and the party returned to the Wolcott,
a mile off shore.
Next day the effort was made to land
the scientists and their camp outfit. 1t
was exciting work. Invariably the
boats were upset. The breakers seemed
to delight in their frolic with the white
men. 1t s wonderful that there were
no serious casualties. DR.. Mearns was
thrown into the boiling sea. He clun G
to chest of material needed in his
scientific work as miser clings to gold.
The waves enjoyed having g scientific
landsmsn to play with. One moment
DIR. MeeTns wac On top of his chest and
the next instant the chest was on top of
the doctor. Chest and man finally
reached shore. After the boats, coats,
hats, oars, boxes and other fotsam and
jetsam had been collected from the
beach the scientists settled down to the
serioua work OF the expedition, and for
several days collected specimens of birds,
mammals and plants which will go to
enrich the collections of the Smithson-
ian institution at Washington.
Both DR.. Mearns and Prof. Brandegee
were gratiied in securing specimens
both of mammals and plants which are
entirely new to scientists. Among other
curious specimens ia that OF a miniature
fox. 1t is full.grown animal, with a
tail something like that of beaver.
This San Clemente Reynard is but littl 0
larger than big rat. 1t reminds one of
the animal records OF prehietoric times,
when fully developed horses rosmed the
western plains which were no larger
| than q wolf.
DR.. Mearns shot leoapard seal. As
the animal was sinking, the doctor
| grssped it with the tenacity of an en-
thusiestic collector. Then the, waves
grasped the doctor and his victim and
toyed with them. The doctor clung to
his prize. AT one time he plowsd shore
ward or the crest of an incoming wave,
actually aetride the corpse of the seal,
only to be thrown high on the sand,
while the deceptive undertow carried
the seal out to sea.
Professor Brandegee secured, among
other things, specimen related to the
wild cucumber family which resembles
huge turnip. 1t made load for two
men and was big enough to almost
swamp small boat.
Before returning to this port last
Wednesday morning the party visited
Catalina, where San Diegan captured
a 453 pound jewish and an angler from
the east did some fancy work in landing
65 pound shark with five ounce rod.
He beat the rod and reel record for thus
landing big fab by 10 pounds. The
landsmen of the party are positive that
the waves through which they landed
on the shores OF San Clemente were fully
20 feet hiRh