76 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Islands to which small vessels resort, and also did some sounding 

 work between those islands and the mainland. The latter part of July- 

 Mr. A. B. Alexander, fishery expert of the Albatross, was detailed to the 

 sealing schooner Louis Olsen, of Astoria, Oreg., to enable him to make 

 more complete observations relatiA^e to the fur-seal at sea than were 

 possible from the steamer. He remained with the schooner during her 

 entire cruise, and went with her to Victoria, B. C, where he subse- 

 quently rejoined the Albatross. 



Early in August, while tracing the limit of seal movements to the 

 northwestward of St. Paul Island, in the direction of Cape Kazarin, 

 on the Siberian coast, a line of soundings was run out into the deep 

 water beyond the 100-fathom curve, which developed an elevation or 

 submarine ridge of proportionally great height above the surrounding 

 bottom, but the examination was too limited in extent to show its 

 relations with the platform. The region is a favorite feeding ground 

 for seals, and Lieutenant-Commander Drake believes that the ridge 

 has more or less influence upon the currents bordering the jilatform, 

 possibly affecting the presence and abundance of pelagic life. Only a 

 comparatively small number of fishing trials by hand lines were made 

 during this season, but the shore fisheries were studied and collections 

 made by seining at all places visited by the steamer. Many important 

 hydrographic results, both at sea and along the coast (the latter relat- 

 ing to the shore line, harbors, etc.), Avere accomplished. 



The Albatross left Unalaska on September 20, and proceeded by way 

 of Sitka and Port Townsend to the Mare Island navy-yard, where she 

 arrived on October 17. A brief stop was made in the Pnget Sound 

 region in order to obtain information from the recently returned sealing 

 vessels respecting the extent and character of their catch and their 

 experiences during tlie past season. Mr. Townsend and Mr. Alexander 

 were also left in this region, where they remained for several weeks, 

 continuing the investigation of the local sea and salmon fisheries which 

 had previously been taken up. 



The control of the Albatross was relinquished by the Secretary of the 

 Navy on October 20, soon after which extensive repairs to the hull and 

 fittings were begun; they were not finally completed until the middle 

 of May, 1895. During this interval two examinations of Willapa Bay, 

 Washington, were made by Mr. Townsend and Mr. Miller, respectively. 

 The former visited the bay in the fall of 1894, for the purpose of deter- 

 mining the best location for making a plant of eastern oysters. The 

 latter Avas there in IMarch, 1895, and made a general study of the bot- 

 tom and of the density and temperature of the water with reference to 

 oyster-culture. 



The work of the Albatross for the summer of 1895 was planned upon a 

 different basis from that of the previous two years, although her cruising 

 ground was to be essentially the same. Instead of being attached to 

 the patrol fleet, the steamer was given an independent status, under 

 the direction of the Commissioner, in order that the several lines of 



