1 G REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



depth increased to 165 fathoms at 3 miles, and 018 fathoms at 11 milea, 

 soundings having been taken at 1 mile intervals. Extending the line 

 17 miles with increasing intervals of 2, 3, and 1 miles, the depths 

 increased to 808 fathoms, the character of bottom remaining the same, 

 thus insuring a secure bed of soft mud in which a cable would soon 

 sink beyond all its enemies. 



From the above position, 28 miles from the initial station, an approx- 

 imate great-circle course was taken, depths increasing uniformly to the 

 normal ocean bed in 2,500 fathoms, and reaching a depth of 2,895 

 fathoms in latitude 33° 12' north, bottom of brown ooze. Mud took 

 the place of ooze at the last station, and an interval of 8 miles sl-.owed 

 225 fathoms less water, with small fragments of lava intermixed with 

 the mud. The bottom soils from every station were submitted to micro- 

 scopic examination, and the lirst warning of marked elevations of the 

 ocean bed were almost invariably discovered by this means. 



Uniform or slightly increasing depths continued for 50 miles followed 

 by a gradual ascent, until in latitude 32° 44' north we found ourselves 

 on the summit of an elevation having 2,014 fathoms of water. The 

 angles were so small and regular that the shoaling could not be consid- 

 ered as an obstruction, but an abrupt descent of 392 fathoms in the 

 next 2 miles might be considered in that light. Traces of lava soon 

 disappeared, butjuud extended 12 miles from the summit, and was then 

 replaced by brown ooze, which, with normal depths, extended to lati- 

 tude 31° 43' north. Here the line was dropped and we returned to 

 Monterey Bay for the purpose of further developing the submarine can- 

 yon exteudiug seaward from Salinas Landing, which, for convenience, 

 will hereafter be referred to as the "cable trough." It was thought 

 that more uniform depths might possibly be found by bearing slightly 

 to the westward of the first line, but there was little choice between 

 them. Having completed tlie examination, we returned to San Fran- 

 cisco, reaching port October 24. 



The meteorological conditions, while unfavorable for the prosecution 

 of the survey, were not unusual for the season of the year. Fogs pre- 

 vailed some portion of each day in the vicinity of the land; strong 

 coast winds with hazy, cloudy weather, extended 100 miles or more 

 offshore; cloudy weather was the rule, and a southeast gale with heavy 

 seas and drenching rain was encountered during the last two days the 

 vessel was engaged on the line. 



The preliminary trip developed a few weak points which were reme- 

 died in a couple of days, and the remainder of the outfit, completed 

 during our absence, was taken on board. The 2,000 pounds of sound- 

 ing wire contracted for by the Navy Department for the survey had not 

 arrived. We waited for it until October 31; then with 160 pounds pro- 

 cured from the storehouse, 100 pounds from the Thetis, and a similar 

 amount belonging to this vessel we left the navy-yard, took on board 190 



