PORTO RICO.

Porto Rico lies between the parallels of 17° 56' and 18° 31′ N. latitude, and 65° 35′ and 67° 16′ W. longitude. It is nearly rectangular in shape, and has a greatest length of 95 miles east and west, and a width of 30 to 35 miles. The interior of the island is mountainous and very rugged. The highest mountains are nearer the south and east coasts of the island, and have elevations up to 4,400 feet. There are many fertile valleys, and on the coasts there are generally more or less narrow strips of lowland from which the higher land rises abruptly at a short distance inland.

The hydrographic characteristics form a parallel to the topographic features above mentioned. In general, there is a narrow bank of soundings close to the island, from the edge of which the bottom pitches off rapidly to great depths. The shoals frequently show in the daytime under favorable conditions by a difference in the color of the water over them.

Rivers. There are several hundred streams, some of them of good. size, but none are navigable except for boats and small craft. From the location of the mountain divides the streams on the south and east sides of the island are short and fall rapidly to the sea, while those on the north and west sides are longer and slope less rapidly. Population. By the census of 1920, Porto Rico had a population of 1,297,722 inhabitants.

Products.-Agriculture is the principal occupation of the inhabitants. Sugar, coffee, and tobacco are the great staples, and cotton, rice, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, and tropical fruits are also cultivated. Cattle are raised to some extent, some of which are exported to other West India Islands.

Trade. The principal trade is with the United States. In 1920 the total imports amounted to $121,561,574, and total exports $158,322,083. The principal imports are iron, steel, and lumber products, cloths, provisions, flour, rice, and fish; the principal exports are sugar, coffee, tobacco, and fruits.

The port of entry is San Juan; the subports are Arecibo, Agurdilla, Mayaguez, Guanica, Ponce, Arroyo, Humacao, and' Fajardo.

Wharves and lighters.-At San Juan, Guanica, and Ponce there are wharves at which vessels can lie to discharge and load. At other ports in Porto Rico vessels discharge and load by means of lighters. Communication with New York, New Orleans, Europe, Venezuela, Mexico, and the West India Islands may be had by several lines of steamers which touch at some of the principal ports of Porto Rico. Railroads. A railroad is planned to encircle the island. This road is (1920) in operation from San Juan eastward to Carolina and westward through Arecibo, and Mayaquez to Ponce on the south coast, with connecting branches. There is also a railroad from Mameyes to Naguabo, through Fajardo. A railroad runs from Ponce eastward to Guayama.

Highways. There are good highways in many parts of the island, and automobiles and carriages can be obtained at most of the towns.

The principal roads now maintained are as follows: There is a road around the island which passes through the important towns and villages near the coast; there are roads across the island from San Juan to Ponce, and from Arecibo to Ponce, and from the former road branches make off southeastward to Guayama and Humacao.

Telegraph. There is communication by telegraph and telephone to all parts of Porto Rico, and by cable through Jamaica, St. Thomas, and St. Croix to other points.

Radio. There are naval radio stations at San Juan and Cayey. Quarantine.-National quarantine laws are enforced in Porto Rico by officers of the United States Public Health Service.

Marine Hospital.-There are relief stations of the United States Public Health Service at San Juan and Ponce.

Hurricane warning displays of the United States Weather Bureau are made at San Juan and other ports during the hurricane season. Advices regarding hurricanes that threaten Porto Rico are, moreover, sent to all parts of the island by telegraph and telephone. (See p. 26.)

NORTH COAST OF PORTO RICO.

Point Borinquen, the northwest point of Porto Rico, is steep to and may be rounded at a distance of 3/4 mile. The extreme western part is low but is backed by steep wooded slopes about 1/2 mile inland. A rocky bluff over 200 feet high begins about 3/4 mile southwestward of Point Borinquen lighthouse and extends northeast and eastward along the north coast of Porto Rico. Point Borinquen lighthouse (group flashing white every 30 seconds) is a gray cylindrical tower about 2 miles northeast of the extreme western end of the point. A brown scar in the cliff just beneath the lighthouse shows up to seaward, and is a conspicuous landmark.

From Point Borinquen lighthouse to Arecibo lighthouse the coast trends in a general easterly direction. It is little indented, and there are no sheltered anchorages; there are numerous rocky cliffs, with sand beaches and dunes between them. The prominent features of this part of the coast are the high hills in the interior and high cliffs along the coast. The hills begin about 1 mile west of Arecibo, and are mostly smooth, grassy slopes, backed by conical wooded hills from 100 to 800 feet high. Rocky cliffs, 150 to 300 feet high, extend along the coast from a little westward of Camuy River to Point Borinquen. These cliffs terminate at the water in places, and are nowhere more than 1/2 mile back. The railroad extends from Arecibo to Aguadilla, and a good highway connects the towns along this coast.

The coast east of Point Borinquen lighthouse is but little indented and is a low strip between 14 and 11⁄2 mile wide, from which bushy cliffs rise abruptly to elevations of 170 to 260 feet. The low points at the water are rocky bluffs.

Point Sardina, 1⁄2 mile northward of Isabela, is low and rocky, and there is a sandy cove on its west side where a boat landing may be made at times.

Isabela is a post village on the highland nearly 7 miles eastward of Point Borinquen lighthouse, and shows well from seaward. A road

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leads to the water in front of the village. The red water tank at the village is prominent. Quebradillas is a town in the highlands, 1 mile eastward of Guajataca River.

Guajataca River, 4 miles eastward of Isabela, is a deep gulch, which shows when off it. Between Point Penon, to the eastward, and Guajataca River the cliffs terminate at the water and there is no beach.

Point Penon, 5 miles eastward of Guajataca River, is a slight projection with lower land between it and the foothills, about 1/4 mile back, and a rocky islet close-to. A rocky islet, with a number of bare rocks near it, lies close to shore about 3/4 mile eastward of the point. Hatillo is a town on the railroad 1 mile eastward of Camuy.

PORT ARECIBO.

This port is on the north coast of Porto Rico, 26 miles eastward of Point Borinquen lighthouse and 33 miles westward of San Juan Harbor. It is an open bight formed by a recession of the coast about 11⁄2 mile on the west side of Point Morrillos. The anchorage for vessels is exposed to the sea and swell from outside, and affords no shelter. Steamers frequently call to load coffee and sugar. Vessels discharge and load by means of lighters, which come off from the mouth of the river.

Point Morrillos is formed by two hills about 70 feet high. Arecibo lighthouse (fixed white light exhibited from a white tower) is on the northern hill close to shore, and about 350 yards from the western end of the point. The southern hill, 1/4 mile southward of Arecibo lighthouse, has a bluff on its southern side where the Arecibo River

enters.

Four rocks, which show above water, are found in a distance of 400 yards southwestward from Point Morrillos. Cosinera Rock, the southwesternmost, is a small, flat-topped ledge just above high water. Tres Hermanos is the local name of the other three rocks. The two outer ones, lying 150 yards northeastward of Cosinera Rock, are close together and about 3 feet high. The other rock, lying midway between the two rocks and the point, is a small ledge just above high water. There are depths of 612 to 7 fathoms 150 yards westward of the three westernmost rocks. The passages between the rocks are used by the lighters only.

Resuello Rock is awash at high water, and lies about 1/4 mile from shore off the western end of Arecibo, and a little over 3/4 mile westward from Cosinera Rock. There is little water between it and the shore. The soundings taken indicate that there may be a shoal outside of it, and the rock should be given a good berth.

The 5-fathom curve is about 3% mile, and the 3-fathom curve between 400 and 500 yards, from shore between Cosinera Rock and the eastern end of Arecibo.

Arecibo is a town on the shore 1 to 111⁄2 miles southwestward of the lighthouse, and is of considerable importance as a receiving and shipping port. In 1920 the population was 10,039. The cathedral and the theater (large white building) are the most prominent buildings in the town. The town has communication by telephone and telegraph, and by railroad, eastward and westward. There is also a good highway across the island to Ponce and along the north coast.

Arecibo River enters at the eastern end of the bight, on the south side of the bluff 1/4 mile southward of Arecibo lighthouse, and has a depth of 3 feet on the bar. There are warehouses just inside the mouth of the river, from which lighters go out to vessels. After heavy rains the river sometimes breaks through temporarily at the eastern end of Arecibo.

Improvements now in progress, contemplate dredging an opening into the lagoon southward of the lighthouse and building warehouses on its south shore, connecting the warehouses with Arecibo by a railroad.

A pilot may be obtained by making signal.

ANCHORAGES.-The usual anchorage for large steamers is with Arecibo lighthouse bearing 87° true (E mag.), distance 1/2 mile, and with Cosinera Rock, distant 1/4 mile, and in line with the bluff on the north side of the mouth of the river, bearing 116° true (SE by E % E mag.) in 8 to 9 fathoms, sandy bottom.

The smaller steamers anchor about 150 yards from Cosinera Rock, with the rock in line with Arecibo lighthouse, bearing 70° true (ENE 12 E mag.) in 6 fathoms.

There is little current at these anchorages and vessels lie head to the wind, tailing away from the rocks in the daytime.

For a distance of 250 yards eastward and southeastward of Cosinera Rock there are depths of 3 to 4 fathoms, the water then gradually shoaling to the shore eastward and southward. From May to August small vessels with a local pilot sometimes anchor in the bight southeastward of Cosinera Rock.

QUARANTINE.-National quarantine regulations are enforced. DIRECTIONS.-Approaching from either direction give the coast a berth of 3 miles until off the port. From westward, steer for Arecibo lighthouse on a 133° true (SE 1% S mag.) course until the cathedral in Arecibo bears about south-southwest; from eastward, steer for the cathedral on a 200° true (SSW 14 W mag.) course until the lighthouse bears about southeast. Then steer 176° true (S mag.) heading for 3 stacks almost in line and about 1/2 mile southeastward of Arecibo (northern stack yellow brick and two southern ones iron), and proceed with care to the anchorage.

Anchor in 7 to 10 fathoms before Point Carocoles (11⁄2 miles eastward of the lighthouse) is shut out by Point Morrillos. The anchorage is from 11⁄2 to not over 3/4 mile from Arecibo lighthouse, bearing about east, and from 300 yards to not over 11⁄2 mile from Cosinera Rock.

From Port Arecibo to San Juan Harbor, the coast has an easterly trend for 332 miles. For nearly 16 miles to Point Puerto Nuevo, it consists of sand beaches and sand dunes, with occasional rocky bluffs; thence to San Juan, of numerous hummocks and rocky bluffs, varying in height up to 130 feet, and short intervening sand beaches. The coast is indented by a number of bights and coves, none of which afford sheltered anchorage. A line of breakers is found from 14 to 11⁄2 mile offshore, inclosing numerous lone rocks. Beginning at San Juan and extending westward, there is a range of conical hills a short distance inland.

Point Morrillos, the eastern head of Port Arecibo, has two hills about 70 feet high, the northern one of which is marked by Arecibo Light

house

(white hexagonal tower attached to square flat-roofed

dwelling).

Point Caracoles, 111⁄2 miles eastward of Arecibo lighthouse, is a rocky bluff 70 feet high, with two islets close westward.

Point Las Tunas, 311⁄2 miles eastward of Arecibo lighthouse, is the westernmost of numerous high, rocky, bluff hummocks which form the coast for 114 miles. There are some prominent high, rugged rocks near the coast 2 miles eastward of the point.

Point Palmas Altas, 8 miles eastward of Arecibo lighthouse, is about 35 feet high, and there are numerous rocks for a distance of 5% mile westward of it. A boat landing can be made at times in the bight on the west side of the point. Steamers load sugar from lighters. The usual anchorage is with a private beacon, Point Palmas Altas bearing 154° true (S by E 7% E mag.) and the hummock westward of Point Manati bearing 107° true (ESE % E mag.) in 72 fathoms, sandy bottom. The anchorage is open and generally a sea makes in. Some sand dunes with white patches lie 121⁄2 miles westward of it.

Manati River entrance lies between two hills which rise on either side to heights of 130 feet. A number of houses show on the slope on its western side. Between Manati River and Point Palmas Altas, a distance of 11⁄2 miles, there are some prominent high, bare rocks.

Barceloneta is a town on the west bank of Manati River, and on the railroad 1 mile inland. Manati is a town on the railroad about 4 miles southeastward of Barceloneta and 3 miles inland.

Point Manati, 1/2 mile eastward of Manati River, is prolonged westward for 1/4 mile by two rocky islets, and there are numerous rocky islets close to shore for a distance of 3/4 mile eastward of the point.

Between Point Chivato and Point Manati, a distance of 5 miles, the coast recedes about 1 mile, forming an open bay. The shore of the eastern part of the bay is low and in places marshy, its western part is a ridge 130 to 170 feet high, backed by conical hills.

Point Chivato is low, rounding, and not distinctive as seen from westward. A rock awash lies 600 yards northward of the point.

Point Puerto Nuevo, 311⁄2 miles westward of Point Cerro Gordo, is low and not distinctive. Rocky islets extend 1 mile westward from the point; they lie about 1/4 mile from shore, and show against the sandy beach behind them. A boat landing can be made at times inside the rocks west of the point.

Vega Baja is a town on the railroad on the west bank of Cibuco River, about 3 miles inland. A large yellow mill with red stack shows above the trees in this vicinity.

Garzas Islets are bare rocks which show only when close in, and lie close to a point 211⁄2 miles westward of Point Cerro Gordo. The point behind Garzas Islets is a grassy hill, terminating westward in a bluff head, and is prominent. Cibuco River empties into the cove on the west side of Garzas Islets; its entrance is blocked by reefs. Point Cerro Gordo, 4 miles westward of Point Fraile, has a prominent ridge 135 feet high, which extends eastward about 1 mile. There are scattering bushes and trees on the ridge, and bluffs at the water. Some houses show in the cove just west of Point Cerro Gordo; a boat landing can be made here at times.

Point Fraile, 1 mile westward of Guayanaba River, is a grasscovered ridge 65 feet high, with a small bluff at its western end. A depth of 14 fathoms was found 3% mile northward of Point Fraile.