18 KEPOICT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The order for a cable surve}^ coutem])latecl a single line, but our 

 experience convinced me of the advisability of further development of 

 the route, and on November 24 I wrote the hydrographer as follows: 



Have finished tlie great-circle route, with the exception of the shore lauding on 

 Oahu. AVhile it may be considered practicable, I do not feel that any single line 

 will be wholly satisfactory, and will, therefore, as soon as possible, extend the 

 second route on a rhumb liue, which will bo about as far to the southward of the 

 Tuscarora's line as the great circle is to the northward of it. I don't know that it 

 will be any better than the one we have already examined, but it will give us two 

 surveys and a reconnoissauce on practically parallel lines. 



At 10:50 a. m., December 2, we left port to locate a cable landing on 

 the east or south side of Oahu. Four of the most promising points 

 were examined, as follows: Hauauma Bay, Mauna Loa Bay, Kapua 

 Entrance, and Waikiki Bay. The latter lies about 3 miles from Hono- 

 lulu, and all things considered seems the best, though Kapua Entrance 

 or Mauna Loa Bay affords practicable landings. 



A second line was run from Kaiwi Channel to an intersection with 

 the great circle in latitude 21° 47' north, practically completing that 

 liue, and defining another contour line from the shore platform to the 

 ocean bed, about 10 miles south and west of the first one. 



The currents in the vicinity of the islands are strong and erratic, 

 frequently attaining a velocity of 4 to 6 miles per hour on the eastern 

 shores of Oahu, and often reaching the bottom with scouring effect. 

 In Kaiwi Channel there is sufficient drift to prevent the deposit of 

 mud, yet not enough to hinder the growth of various delicate forms, 

 which we found in large numbers. 



A critical, examination of the bottom was made in Kaiwi Channel 

 and near the points selected for cable landings with beam trawl and 

 tangles, to determine more definitely the character of bottom and its 

 fauna, having special reference to the existence of coral lumps and 

 such forms as might be destructive to a submarine cable. The general 

 results of these few hauls may be briefly stated as follows: 



Dredging station 3467 : 6 specimens of Macruri, 2 chimteras, 2 starfishes, 3 shells, 1 



sea-urchin, 1 brisinga, 2 ascidians, 1 Pentacheles, 2 alcyonarians, 1 gorgouian. 

 Dredging station 3468 : 2 small hshes, 5 sea-urchins, a few crabs, little coral, 3 ojihi- 



uraus, much bryozoa. 

 Dredging station 3469: 1 starfish, 2 shtdls, much coral, little bryozoa, little algie. 

 Dredging station 3470: many small fishes, 1 large fish, few starfish, 1 octopus, many 



prawns, 1 squid. 

 Dredging station 3471 : many small fishes, 12 prawns, 1 holothurian, 1 peunatula. 

 Prcdgiug station 3472: 6 Macruri, many specimens of Jfyctophum, 2 fiounders, 6 



eels, 12 starfish, few shells, few crabs, 6 prawns, 1 holothurian, few sponges. 

 Dredging station 3473 : 4 Macruri, 2 Sternoptyx, 1 starfish, 3 shells, 1 crab, 4 prawns 



1 naked mollusk, 1 pennatula. 

 Dredging station 3474: 35 Macruri, 2 specimens of Myctophum, 2 of Sternoptyx, 2 



eels, many starfish, few shells, 5 sea-urchins, 4 crabs, few ophiurans, few prawns, 



few sponges, few naked mollusks, 1 pennatula. 



