ABSTRACT 



The abundance and distribution of the epibenthic and 

 coral fauna of three major canyons was studied using "Cheep 

 Tow", a towed underwater camera sled. The three canyons 

 surveyed were Baltimore, Lydonia and Oceanographer Canyons, 

 with particular emphasis on the depths between 2 00 to 

 1000 meters. However, it was not always possible to obtain 

 comparable coverage for all three canyons. Baltimore 

 Canyon most closely resembled slope habitats. It has a 

 high sedimentation rate and limited substrate variability 

 in terms of extent of exposed outcrop, talus and glacial 

 erratics. Lydonia and Oceanographer Canyons have much 

 greater exposures of different substrate types, such as 

 outcrops of rock and consolidated clay, talus, numerous 

 glacial erratics and areas of extensive coral debris. 



The shallow water fauna in canyons is similar to that 

 found on the slope. It is composed of a variety of species 

 that appear to have somewhat discrete depth ranges. In 

 general, their distribution is patchy. The deeper water 

 fauna is not as variable, except in areas that have exposed 

 hard substrate. The fauna is usually dominated by three 

 species, the crab Geryon quinquedens and two demersal 

 fish Synaphobranohus kaupi and rattails. In areas of 



