Agassiz- Albatross Expedition to the Eastern Tropical Pacific (1904-1905)

The US Fish Commission's vessel Albatross, under the command of L. M. Garrett, explored the region of the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of Easter Island. The expedition was led by Alexander Agassiz and he was joined by his assistant Henry Bryant Bigelow, naturalist Frederick M. Chamberlain, and Professor C.A. Kofoid. The Albatross departed Callao, Peru on December 3, 1904 with Easter Island as the intended destination. The group made stops in Cook Bay, as well as in La Perouse Bay during which studies of prehistoric monuments were made. An inland excursion was also taken with the help of Mr. C. Cooper, manager of the Easter Island Company, to examine the crater of Rana Roraka. The stone village of Orongo was also visited. The expedition then continued on to the Galapagos Islands, reaching Wreck Bay on January 3, 1905 The group studied area marine life in the Humboldt Current on their journey across the southern Pacific. Sizable collecting was also done along the shores of Easter Island with around 30 plant species being taken in. A small number of shore fish and a few species of sea urchins were also collected.

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