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if we lost Vancouver Island and the adjoining strip of mainland, it would be our duty to protect our trade along the American coasts (2486). With the exception of large grain-ships from San Francisco, we have little trade north of Ecuador, hence the necessity for a station near this northern limit of our commerce (2487– 2491). Trade in the central waters of the Pacific is very limited. The distances are great, and the islands and their population small. Trade is distributed from one or two centres, of which New Zealand is the most important. There is a considerable coal traffic between New South Wales and America. At present a naval station in a central position is not much wanted, but the conditions might be different during war (2609– 2612).

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The Galapagos Islands occupy a very central posi- tion on the west coast of America, and are, with the exception of Cocos Island, which is not far distant, better suited than any other place for a coaling-station in war (2338). Of all the Galapagos, Charles Island offers most advantages for the establishment of a depôt of stores and coal (2348, 2349, 2484). The island is 10 miles long and 8 broad (2356). Post Office Bay and Black Beach Bay (neither of which runs far into the land) are the only landing-places (2357-2359). Black Beach Bay, on the west side of the island, is open to rollers from the south. Post Office Bay, on the north side, is recommended as an anchorage (2355); there is a good trail-about 5 miles-be- tween the two places (2362). Water is found at a distance of about 2 miles inlaud, but might be brought in pipes to Post Office Bay, at a cost of about 1,500 dollars (2352, 2353). Charles Island was originally a penal settlement, founded in 1832 by the Ecuador Government; in 1836 the population numbered about 200, in 1875 about 40; vegetables, fruit, and fish are abundant; there are also numerous cattle and horses on the island (2351). Charles Island could probably be defended without much difficulty; its distance from any great ports would protect it from the attacks of any except predatory parties (2361).

Cocos Island belongs to one of the small Central American States (2340, 2342). In the absence of any other British naval station, the central position of Cocos Island makes it not only desirable, but almost necessary, for us to take possession of it in time of war (2338, 2339). Its importance will be considerably increased by the cutting of the Panamá Canal (2376). Though not so large as Charles Island, and, therefore, not so well fitted for a depôt in peace as well as during war (2348), Cocos Island is easily defensible; the only landing place is near the anchorage, an open roadstead as good as the anchorage at the Galapagos, and at one time much used as a refuge by buccaneers (2339, 2341, 2345). The water supply is abundant (2339, 2344), and the weather generally fine (2347). There is no population on the island (2343).

Juan Fernandez.-All places on the west coast of America having close harbours have already been occupied by civilized Powers (2366). Of all the islands between Vancouver and the Falklands, Juan Fernandez is the best suited for the establishment of a

aling-station (2365). Juan Fernandez divides the distance between Cape Horn and Vancouver less equally than Charles Island; but it is opposite to a rich part of South America, is fairly on the track of ships coming round Cape Horn or through the Magellan Straits (2375); the anchorage (Cumber- land Bay) is good all the year round, with deep water close to the shore (2363, 2364), and there is only one convenient landing-place, the rest of the coast being nearly inaccessible (2307, 2368). The island is about 13 miles long, with an average breadth of 2 to 3 miles. The highest point is 3,000 feet (2369, 2370). It is inhabited by a few Chilean families (2373, 2374).

Fanning Island occupies a central position in the Pacific, nearly in the direct track between Vancouver, San Francisco, or the Sandwich Islands, and the Fiji group (2377-2879). It is a low coral island, and has a harbour, on the lee side, with only one entrance, and

suitable for a small number of steamers (2377, 2380, 2381, 2397); the anchorage is good over a space sufficient to accommodate two or three corvettes (2380, 2382). Fanning Island has a good supply of water, is fertile (2383), and should be easily defensible, as it is open to attack at the harbour only (2385, 2386). The island was taken possession of by Her Majesty's ship "Alert" in 1860, when it contained a flourishing little settlement employed in the whale and cocoa-nut oil trades (2387, 2388, 2394); it is not so much visited now by steamers as formerly (2390). There are no colonists proper, the residents having gone there on their own venture. The island is presumably under the High Commissioner of Fiji (2391–2393).

The Society Islands, distant about 1,500 miles from Fanning Island, would probably be occupied in war time by the French, who have a protectorate over the greater part of the group (2398). In the Leeward Islands of the Society group are some independent islands which would be eligible as couling-stations (2399, 2401). Two of these, Raiatea especially, have the finest harbours in the central waters of the Pacific (2399, 2403, 2411). The islands are small, moun- tainous, and inhabited by people to some extent civilized, probably acknowledging the authority of the Queen of Tahiti (2400, 2402, 2404, 2405). The har- bours, being coral-formed, could be easily defended, on account of the narrowness of the entrance through the boundary-reef, at which point only they are assailable 2406, 2407).

The Fiji Islands occupy an important position with regard to New Zealand and Australian trade (2594), lying in the direct line between Australia and the west coast of North America (2595), and dividing fairly the distance between Fanning Island and Australia (2596). With reference to trade between New Zealand and San Francisco, Fiji would be more important than any station in the Society group (2597). There are two or or three good harbours in the Fiji Islands, as, for example, Levuka, the present, and Suva, the future, seat of government (2591), Suva Harbour could pro- bably be easily defended, as the entrance is narrow, through barrier coral reefs (2592, 2593).

Vancouver Island. The passage from Esquimalt to Nanaimo, about 80 miles, is intricate for half the distance, deep and tortuous through the main channel (2652, 2653). The Haro Strait, for a distance of at least 20 miles, is close to American territory (2654, 2655). If the naval station were moved from Esqui- malt to Nanaimo, ships would have to go, in order to reach their harbour, 80 miles further north, and to pass United States' territory (2656).

Halifax is practically an open harbour, as it is seldom closed by ice which a heavy steamer cannot penetrate (2549, 2550); the harbour is very fine, well lighted and buoyed (2551, 2552), and should be protected to the utmost (2553).

Newfoundland has a dangerous coast on account of fogs and ice (2545). St. John's is inaccessible during a few months of the year (2544); it should defend itself (2546) so that its good harbour might not fall into the hands of an enemy (2547, 2548).

Cape Breton Island. Sydney is a very fine harbour, and the seat of the coal industry of that region (2554) ; in winter a squadron might lie afloat there in security; but during three or four months the harbour is liable to be occasionally blocked by drift ice (2555).

Louisburg, being on the same seaboard, comes probably under the same conditions (2556). If the coal-fields in the neighbourhood should be developed, the cont en route to Halifax would have to cross the Gut of Canso, which is choked by ice during a great part of the year (2559, 2560).

Antigua. The small naval station at Antigua was very valuable when we had large sailing fleets in the West Indies, but it is not so important now that trade is chiefly carried on by steam (2574, 2575). It is, however, the best station we could have in the Wind- ward Islands for small men-of-war in the hurricane season (2576).

St. Lucia has a good harbour, and is important ou

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