502 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.86 



LOCATION OF STATIONS 



In the years 1926 to 1934, 2,246 net hauls were made at 1,161 

 stations m the northeastern Pacific by the International Fisheries 

 Commission (hereafter referred to as the IFC). The area covered 

 extends from off Cape Flattery, Wash., to the Sanak Islands, Alaska. 

 It includes the coast of British Columbia and Alaska to the entrance 

 of Bering Sea and extends throughout the Gulf of Alaska north of 

 latitude 54° N. 



Since the work was done to capture eggs and larvae of halibut, it 

 covered principally only that time of year when they were to be ex- 

 pected in the plankton, that is, from January 1 to July 28. No 

 stations were worked at any other time of the year. In the period 

 January through March, stations were worked in 1928, 1929, 1930, 

 1932, 1933, and 1934. During this season the area around the 

 Queen Charlotte Islands, especially in the vicinity of the Whaleback, 

 Cape St. James, and the entrance to Hecate Strait was very well 

 covered, as was also the northern part of the Gulf of Alaska from 

 Yakutat to Cape Chiniak on Kodiak Island. No stations were 

 worked west of that point. Stations were also worked farther out 

 in the Gulf of Alaska, and a few off Cape Flattery, Wash. From 

 April 1 to May 21, stations were worked in 1929, 1930, 1931, and 

 1932. The area around the Queen Charlotte Islands was again well 

 covered. Many stations were worked across the Gulf of Alaska 

 between latitudes 54° N. and 58° N. A few in the vicinity of Yakutat 

 were the only ones worked in the northern part of the Gulf during 

 this period. The area from Cape Chiniak to the Shumagin Islands 

 was well covered. No stations were worked south of Queen Charlotte 

 Sound. In the third period, between May 22 and June 27, stations 

 were worked in 1931 and 1932. During this season no net stations 

 were worked in the vicinity of the Queen Charlotte Islands or south- 

 ward. Several lines of stations were run across the middle of the 

 Gulf of Alaska to Kodiak Island. Another series was taken to the 

 southwest of Kodiak Island, between it and the Alaskan Peninsula. 

 A number of stations made in 1931, in the latter part of June and in 

 July, were worked between Kodiak Island and the Sanak Islands. 



The "standard" stations were made as follows: Three 1-meter nets 

 were put on the wire at intervals of 300 meters. The wire was then 

 played out until the bottom net was 900 meters from the boat. After 

 being towed at slow speed for 20 minutes, 100 meters of wire were 

 brought in. After another interval of 20 minutes the nets were 

 raised another 100 meters. When the nets had been towed at these 

 depths for another 20 minutes they were hauled to the surface. Their 

 contents were removed and immediately preserved in 4 percent 

 formalin. Thus the "A" nets were towed for 20 minutes at each of 



