CL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The flshingf methods in this vicinity have been fully described in pre- 

 vious publications of the Fish Commission, and therefore need not be 

 referred to again. 



The Albatross arrived at Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, at midnight of 

 April 11, and commenced a series of investigations off Monterey Bay 

 and the Golden Gate with a view of determining the grounds resorted 

 to by salmon while at sea, and all the attending conditions. The 

 stations were selected with special reference to the character of the 

 bottom, and as net setting in such great depths was experimental, the 

 work was commenced under 100 fathoms depth. Seven stations were 

 made, and while the catch at each station, together with the beam-trawl 

 hauls, is appended in detail, it may not be uninteresting to add a few 

 remarks relating to our trials. 



The stations were first selected on the chart, but before setting the 

 nets the depth was ascertained by sounding, and, if satisfactory, one 

 or more hauls of the beam trawl were made to test the bottom life. 

 The first station was selected near the 100-fathom curve on the south 

 side of the submarine gorge which penetrates the central portion of 

 Monterey Bay, in latitude 3(3° 45' 30" N., longitude 121° 53' 30" W., at 

 the sounding marked 127 fathoms, fine, dark sand. The lead at this 

 point indicated soft mud. The vessel was then moved over short 

 distances, but each sounding indicated muddy bottom. Trials with the 

 beam trawl showed that proper bottom had been found, and two cod 

 gill-nets were set in 68 fathoms, latitude 36° 45' 15" IST., longitude 121° 

 53' W., C. S. chart No. 5500. On account of a dense fog these nets 

 were not hauled for three days, when the catch was found to be a few 

 rockfish and dogfish. The nets were badly torn by sharks. In all our 

 search for proper bottom conditions, the indications of mud as shown 

 by the lead were not conclusive, for at all such stations in this vicinity 

 and to the northward the beam trawl gave evidence of rocky bottom, 

 either by bringing up pieces of rock or marine forms only found on 

 rocky bottom, besides the net being torn by dragging over rocks. The 

 shore shelf, say to 500 fathoms, appears to be bowlderous or stony, 

 generally covered or partly covered with or imbedded in mud. 



Station No. 2 was in 39 fathoms, latitude 36° 39' 30" N., longitude 

 121° 53' W., near sounding 38 fathoms, hard gray sand. Two surface 

 salmon nets were set at this station and remained 18 hours without 

 result. At a third station, in 5 fathoms, gray sand and rock, inside of 

 Point Pinos and parallel to the beach of Pacific Grove, where 2 salmon 

 nets were down 12 hours, only a couple of rock bass were taken. 



Station No. 4 was in 278 fathoms, mud and sand bottom, in latitude 

 36° 47' N., longitude 122° 10' W. The beam trawl indicated very pro- 

 lific life, bringing up several bushels of sea-urchins, large numbers of 

 flounders, slime-eels, spider-crabs, starfishes, and other forms. There 

 were many humj)back whales seen in the vicinity. These nets fished 

 16 hours, and when hauled brought in a number of blac"k-cod and a few 

 dogfish, rockfish, and spider-crabs; nets very badly torn by sharks. 



