Weather Sumnar.y ^ 



The meteorological and hydrographic conditions existing in offshore wa- 

 ters may play an important role in detenrdng the success or failure of a tuna 

 season. An unusual number of summer storms will hamper the operation of many of 

 the smaller trollers and correspondingly reduce market landinrs. Although the 

 weather may vary considei-ably from summer to summer, a general sumr;ary of condi- 

 tions found off the northwest Pacific coast will give an index as to what could 

 be expected in the months of June, July, August, and September, 



Weather conditions during the month of June are generally fair off the 

 northwest Pacific coast. Winds of gale force are infrequent and fog is seldom 

 encountered. The trade winds are light to moderate along the coast from Oregon to 

 the Queen Charlotte Straits and average winds during this period are generally 

 from 15 to 25 m.p,h. From 50 to 500 miles offshore there is a tendency for the 

 winds to become progressively stronger. Small trollers would at times find it 

 difficult to operate during this period. 



July and Jlugust are considered the best and safest months for offshore 

 fishing. The prevailing winds are most frequently westerly and northwesterly 

 throughout these months and the force is generally light to moderate. Fog will 

 increase, particularly along the coastal areas. Vessels fishing in the more north- 

 erly waters off northern Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands will 

 probably find the westerly winds somewhat stronger than in the more southern areas 

 of the fishery. However, the hazards from bad weatiier are minimized in this area 

 because the fishery is generally close inshore and within several hours' running 

 time from shelter. The month of September is usually fair; however, experienced 

 fishermen look for the first southeast storms of the fall during the latter part 

 of the month. At this time albacore fishing gradually tapers off in the northern 

 waters, and fishermen turn to more southern areas, 



NEW SEAMOUMT DISCOVERY 



On August 1, while investigating a report of large schools of tuna in 

 waters offshore from the Washington coast, the Cobb discovered an uncharted sea- 

 mount, A seamount is by definition a mountain which rises from the ocean floor, 

 but does not reach the surface of the ocean. Underwater mountains are not un- 

 common and a number of seamounts are scattered throughout the northeastern Pacific 

 Ocean. (See fig, 37.) 



General Description 



The first soundings of the seamount were picked up on the flashing-type 

 echo-sounder shortly after 0800 on the morning of Axigust 1, at a depth of 860 fath- 

 oms. At this time the vessel was trolling on a course of 353° magnetic and was 

 making close to 8 knots. By 0820 the depth had decreased to 380 fathoms, at which 

 time the recording depth-finder was started, and a continuous record of soundings 

 was recorded while surveying the area of the seamount above four hundred fathoms 

 (see fig. 38), Several courses were held v/hile making the fathogram recordings, 

 one at 353° magnetic and reverse and the other at 270° magnetic and reverse. These 



*THIS SECTION WAS PREPARED Br CAPTAIN SHELDON W. JOHNSON, MASTER OF THE M. V.. JOHN N. COBB . 



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