210 January 1853- Nagasaki Bay Successful. Within a moderate distance from the ship I found nearly every variety of bottom. The anchorage, in five fathoms, was on a coarse sandy bar, which I dredged from the deck — casting the dredge for ward and hauling it in aft. In the Cove, or junk-harbor, I found soft mud in two fathoms, rich in Spatangoid Echi- ni, Ophiuroida and shells. In the open bay the water gradually deepened to 30 and 40 f. — here I found a rich shelly bottom, with some coarse gravel, which yielded the usual forms proper to such localities, among which were myriads of Comatulæ. Many of the sea-animals here found presented unusual peculiarities of form or habit. An Ophelia-like worm oc- curred which possessed a true lamelli- form tail-fin, like that of a fish. An Amphipod, allied to Cerapus, lived in small shells, which it carried about with it, as does the Pagurus, or hermit- crab. And that rare and dubious fish, the Amphiscœus, the lowest of Vertebrata, was here common on sandy bottoms. No birds were obtained here with the ex- ception of a fish-hawk, which was shot by Mr Brooke. The fishes met with were few, and those chiefly caught in the dredge. A large species of Mackerel was com- mon, many of which were given us by the Japanese as food, together with sweet-potatoes and a large species of turnip resembling a radish in shape. The surveys being completed, and having received supplies of wood and water, we had no further excuse or occasion to remain in the bay. On the 6th we weighed anchor, and ran across, and then out, of the bay, ta- king angles as we went, on the lands in sight. At noon we were in N. lat. 30°57′ E. long. 130°98′ Heading S. 3 knots. Wind N.N.W. Temperature 50° 7th. N. lat. 30°22′ E. long. 130°46′ Wind N.W. Cloudy. Temp'ts In the morning we found ourselves to be west of Sanegasima, for which island we con- cluded beating up. 8th. N. lat. 30°12½ E. long. 130°59′ Wind N.W. Stormy Temp' 56° Still beating up for Sanegasima, under double-reefed topsails 311 January 1853- Japanese Seas