REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 101 



latter locality iu a westerly and northerly direction and subsequently 

 in a southerly direction, for the purpose of determining' the western 

 boundary of the elevated platform characterizing' the eastern part of 

 Bering' Sea. The remainder of the season was employed in the vicinity 

 of Unalaska, mainly in ascertaining the positions and value of the cod 

 banks lying off the northern side of that island, but on.leaving' Bering 

 Sea a few stops were made upon the lishing-grounds south of the Alaska 

 Peninsula. 



SJhnc Bank. — This is the first of the large fishing-banks which is 

 reached after entering Bering Sea through Unimak Pass. As defined 

 by tlie surveys of the Albatross, it begins directly off the Northwest 

 Cape of Unimak Island, is elongate in shape and follows approxi- 

 mately the trend of the adjacent coast to within a few miles of Amak 

 Island. It measures about 85 miles in length by about 17 miles in 

 average width, and thus has a total area of about 1,445 square miles. 

 The inner margin of the bank lies only a short distance off the land 

 and the depths range from 20 to 50 fathoms, although some cod were 

 taken in deeper water. The bottom consists chiefly of sand, gravel, and 

 pebbles, changing to mud on the offshore limits. 



The bank derives its name from the occurrence of immense numbers 

 ot a large jelly-fish, brownish or rusty in color, and provided with long- 

 slender tentacles, having great stinging powers. These jelly-fishes, it 

 is said, have never been observed at the surface, but seem to occupy 

 an intermediate zone toward the bottom, where they occasion much 

 annoyance to the fishermen by becoming entangled about their fishing 

 gear, and in this way are often brought on board the vessels. It is 

 also reported that sometimes they even interfere with the hooks reach- 

 ing bottom, and, by covering the bait and lines with a prickly slime, 

 render the former unattractive to the fish and the latter very uncom- 

 fortable to handle. In the early part of the season not much trouble 

 is experienced from this cause, but by July 1 the jelly-fishes become so 

 thick that it is almost useless to renuiin longer ui^on the bank, and 

 other localities farther north are then resorted to. Except for this 

 unusual jihenomenon, however, the advantages for fishing on Slime Bnnk 

 are excellent. The largest and most thrifty looking cod were taken 

 by the Alhatross some or 8 miles from shore, but fish of fair size find 

 good quality were plentiful over nearly the entire bank. Small speci- 

 mens of halibut were also secured occasionally, and the beam trawl 

 disclosed a rich bottom fauna. Attempts have been made to use cod 

 trawls upon this baid<, but without success, owing to the obstacles 

 which the jelly-fishes interpose. The depths of water, however, are 

 everywhere so moderate that hand lines can be employed conveniently, 

 and that is the only method of fishing now followed. 



There are, unfortunately, no available harbors for fishing vessels along 

 the coast adjacent to Slime Bank, although Shaw Bay offers some pro- 



