XVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
through two or three years. Although these were mainly limited to a 
study of the history of the fisheries and of their condition at that 
time, large collections of fishes, containing many new and interesting 
species, were also obtained and described. An important result of 
these researches was to furnish conelusive proof of the value and ex- 
tent of the fishery resources of the Western coast, which were then de- 
veloped and utilized only to a very limited extent in the vicinity of the 
large settlements, and especially about San Francisco. A few fishing 
vessels, however, were in the habit of visiting, each season, certain rich 
cod and halibut banks off the central and southern Alaskan coasts, but 
the extent and character of these banks was unknown. The advan- 
tages which the Kastern fisheries have derived from the investigations 
of the steamer Albatross seemed to warrant the extension of the sur- 
vey to the Pacific coast, and upon the solicitation of many persons in. 
terested in the matter the Commissioner decided to detail the Alba- 
tross for that purpose as soon as Congress could make provision for 
her voyage around and for the necessary alterations in her machinery. 
Appropriations for this purpose were passed in August, 1886, and before 
the close of the calendar year new boilers for the steamer were under 
construction. The plans for the Pacific work contemplated a thorough 
survey of tle entire coast from southern California to the upper limit 
of the extensive cod and halibut banks in Alaska, upon the basis of 
the East coast explorations; but considering how little has been done 
to make known the contour and character of the bottom in that region, 
except near the shore, if was expected that hydrographie work in lay- 
ing out and defining the fishing banks would demand a larger share of 
attention than hitherto. The study of the fishery resources will, how- 
ever, be kept up at the same time, with the view of completing results 
as the explorations continue. 
3.—INQUIRY RESPECTING THE FISHERIES. 
Considerable progress was made during the year in the study of 
several of the more important fisheries, with respect both to their 
methods and their statistics. An event of more than usual interest was 
the completion of the fishing schocner Grampus, which has been con- 
structed upon an entirely new plan proposed by Capt. J. W. Collins. 
While intended to serve as the model of a type of off-shore fishing 
smack, which it is thought will insure greater speed and safety to this 
class of vessels, she has also been specially adapted to certain branches 
ef marine work for the prosecution of which no adequate means have 
hitherto been provided. 
A.—OFFICE AND FIELD WoRK. 
The office and field work in charge of Mr. R. E. Earll had reference 
mainly to the following subjects: 
(1) The mackerel fishery.—The extent of the southern spring fishery 
and the condition of the fish, both fresh and salt, when placed upon the 
