PACIFIC COD FISHERIES 397 



west). Its eastern end seems to be continuous with the shoal water 

 surrounding the Sannak Islands. The greatest width of this bank 

 off Unimak Island is 45 to 50 miles. Depths less than 50 fathoms 

 were found over a large part of the bank, 41 fathoms being the 

 shoalest water discovered. Between the shallow area and the islands 

 to the north and northwest of it depths of 50 to 72 fathoms occur. 

 The area of Davidson Bank is estimated at about 1,600 square miles. 



The bottom upon the bank consists, in different places, of fine to 

 coarse sand, pebbles, and gravel. Green mud is found at a depth of 

 95 fathoms near the outer edge of the bank and black sand in 342 

 fathoms just off the bank. 



Sannak Bank. — The principal bank resorted to by the few vessels 

 that fish throughout the season in the North Pacific is Sannak Bank. 

 This bank lies to the east and southeast of the Sannak Islands, is 

 somewhat elongate in shape, and trends in a general way northeast 

 and southwest. About the central spot on the bank is in latitude 

 54° 20' north, longitude 161° 53' west. To the westward it joins 

 Davidson Bank, the dividing line being at a point approximately 

 south of the middle of the group. The soundings on this bank show 

 depths from 30 to 82 fathoms. Much of the bottom is rocky; sand, 

 pebbles, and gravel also occur. The estimated area of the bank is 

 1,300 square miles. 



The cod taken on this bank are very large and of excellent quality, 

 and are the finest fish taken on any of the Alaska banks, with the 

 exception of those from Slime Bank in Bering Sea. 



For the mariner unacquainted with these waters, this is a danger- 

 ous region, but for one acquainted harbors of refuge are numerous. 

 Caton Harbor, formed by Caton, Elma, and Sannak Islands, is the 

 chief place of refuge for the larger vessels, as it is easy to get into 

 from either the northern or southwestern entrance, and inside there 

 is excellent holding ground and ample protection from all winds. 

 Small vessels, especially power vessels, in case of storm generally 

 anchor close in to the leeward of Caton Island and are safe. On the 

 northern side of Sannak Island vessels drawing 14 and 15 feet can 

 enter Pavlof Harbor easily at high tide, but at low tide vessels draw- 

 ing more than 6 feet would have difficulty in entering. The channel 

 is rather tortuous but is buoyed. Inside the anchorage is limited, 

 as the harbor is small. The Union Fish Co. has a large station here, 

 and vessels can lie alongside the dock at all stages of the tide, large 

 ones usually resting easily in the mud at low tide. Johnsons Harbor, 

 where there is another station of the same company, can be entered 

 at any stage of the tide, the entrance being unusually free from ob- 

 structions, but the harbor is so shoal throughout the greater portion 

 that the vessel anchorage is restricted largely to the western part, a 

 little inside the entrance. Farther to the westward are Moffets Cove 

 and Company Harbor, on both of which are shore stations of the 

 Alaska Codfish Co., and which are accessible to all cod-fishing vessels 

 at high tide. 



When fishing on this bank, the larger vessels generally ride out 



storms. When the vessel begins to drag, the anchor usually is 



buoyed and the vessel either puts to sea or goes to Caton Harbor. 



Between Sannak Bank and the beginning of the Shumagin Bank, 



to the eastward, lies a large area of comparatively shoal water, over 



