REPORT UPON THE INQUIRY RESPECTING FOOD-FISHES AND 

 THE FISHING-GROUNDS. 



By Richai:i) Ratiiijux. 

 Assistant in charge. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During tlie two years covered by this report the field researclies 

 assigned to this division have extended over a large part of both the 

 Atlantic and Pacific seacoasts, and have embraced a wide area of 

 fresh- water drainage. Most noteworthy from the novelty and import- 

 ance of their results have been the investigations by the steamer Alba- 

 tross hi Bering Sea and along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and 

 California. 



A very thorough reconnaissance has been made of the eastern or 

 shallow-water i)art of Bering Sea, including its fishing-grouuds for cod, 

 the shore lines as far north as the Kuskokwim Kiver, and the general 

 characteristics of the bottom to the western border of the continental 

 platform, whose position also Avas determined. The principal fishing- 

 bank in this region, which has been named after the late Prof. Baird, 

 was discovered to have a very large area, exceeding even that of 

 Georges Bank, off the New England coast. The distribution of the fish 

 on this and on other grounds, as well as their abundance and average 

 size in different places, has been ascertained for the summer season, 

 and much further information of value to the fishermen has been 

 placed on record. The importance of a more thorough knowledge of 

 the physics and natural history of Bering Sea, in view of the grave 

 questions connected withits seal and other fisheries, suggests, how- 

 ever, many additional problems, for the study of which the Albatross 

 is well adapted, and w^hich require early attention. 



The preliminary examination of the continental slope oft' the States 

 of Washington, Oregon, and California, from the Straitsof Fuca tothe 

 Mexican boundary line, was completed in the fall of 1890. The loca- 

 tion of all the fishing-grounds contained within these limits has now 

 been determined, and suflicient material has been collected to illustrate 

 the difi'ereiit varieties of food-lishes, and their distribution throughout 

 the region, as well as the principal features of the bottom fauna. Very 

 H. Mis. 113 7 1)7 



