268 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



depths, and is thence spread out towards Humboldt Bay as 

 a broad and comparatively shallow plateau. 



Two problems are at once suggested by these submarine 

 valleys. One is eminently practical. Steam coasting ves- 

 sels bound for Humboldt Bay, when they get as far north 

 as Shelter Cove in very thick fogs, haul into the shore to 

 find soundings, and then continue parallel with the shore. 

 One vessel has been lost by failing to find bottom until close 

 upon the rocky coast. This steamer doubtless sounded up 

 the axis of the deep submarine valley ofi' King Peak, and 

 could find no bottom. Had the existence of this valley 

 been known, the vessel would have proceeded in a more 

 guarded manner. 



The second bearing which these great submarine valleys 

 have, is upon the deep sea fauna which must be brought 

 close under the shores, the more especially as they bring in 

 the colder waters coming down the coast outside of the in- 

 fluence of the close inshore eddy current to the northward. 



