THE PACIFIC COAST SURVEY 253
also bye and bye to run away from the incessant rains which are said to prevail with winter.
"[October] 27th. Today I commence work investigating the conveniences and inconveniences of Mares Island Straits with a view of ascertaining whether it would be a suitable place for a Navy Yard. I sincerely believe it to be the only good place in the whole bay. The weather is still warm and pleasant much more so than in August. Thousands of geese and brandts cover the hills in every direction, eating the wild oats, and the Coyotl, a small animal resembling a Fox, spoken of by Prescott (see Conquest of Mexico), is also very abund- ant.
"I am very much surprised to find so few fish here. We have not caught the first one, and yet they are very abundant further up the Rivers."
In December the Ewing made an extended trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Previous to his departure from San Fran- cisco, McArthur was deeply concerned about his health, but the beneficial climate of the islands restored him to his natural condition, and he returned to San Francisco early in 1850, greatly improved in body and in spirit.
This same spring, however, brought new disappointments to Lieut. Commanding McArthur, Interested as he was in the Coast Survey, the desultory way in which the government car- ried on the work discouraged him. For weeks the Riving lay idle in San Francisco Bay, while the government refused to pay the wages demanded by sailors. Few if any could be secured at the small pay offered by the Department. McArthur chafed at the delays, and finally after much labor the vacancies in the crew were filled, and on April 3, 1850, the Ewing sailed out of the Golden Gate headed for a reconnaissance of the northern coasts.
Just before leaving for the northern coasts McArthur wrote to Commander Young, dating his letter late in March. In addition to certain family matters, he wrote as follows : "I have made up my mind to be disappointed with regard to the prob-
