102 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tectioii from soutlieast to southwest Avinds, AViiiter fishings would, 

 therefore, l)e attended with Jiiucli danger from the heavy storms which 

 prevail during that season, and oi)erations are chietly limited to the 

 summer months. According to C'a])t. Tanner, a well-found schooner 

 could anchor anywhere on the bank between l\Iay and September, with 

 an even chance »f being able to ride out any gale she might encounter. 



Bainl Btr/il; so named by Capt, Tanner in honor of the late Prof. 

 Spencer F. Baird, is the largest and most important fishing-ground yet 

 discovered in Tiering Sea. Having a total area of abcmt 0,200 square 

 miles, it exceeds in size Portlock Bank, the largest bank south of the 

 Alaska Peninsula, by 2,400 miles, and Georges Bank, the second largest 

 fishing-ground in the iSTorth Atlantic, by 800 miles. Commencing a few 

 miles east of Aniak Island, it extends eastward, Just oft" llie northern 

 coast of the Alaska Peninsula, to the vicinit^^ of Cape Ohigagof, at 

 the mouth of the Ugaguk Biver, a distance of about 230 miles, and 

 has an average width of about 40 miles. The depth of water ranges 

 from 15 to 50 fathoms, and the bottom corresponds both in character 

 and in the richness of its fauna with that of Slime Bank. Tlie adja- 

 cent mainland alfords a Aveather shore during soutlieast winds, and 

 Amak Island offers fairly good protection on its southeast and south- 

 west sides. Port Moller and Herendeeu Bay, Avhich were partly charted 

 by the Albatross, will be ports of call when they are better known, and 

 Port Ilaiden may also become available for shelter after it has been 

 surveyed. 



The examination was begun at the western end of the bank, and was 

 carried thence northeastward, the conditions improving with each line 

 of stations until oft" Port Moller, where the best fishing was obtained. 

 Cod were taken at nearly every tiial, but their abundance and quality 

 varied with the locality, the largest and finest specimens having been 

 secured from 15 to 20 miles from shore, in depths of 25 to 40 fathoms. 

 Beyond the Port Moller region they continued abundant and of good 

 size to near the northern end of tin' bank. The extreme head of Bristol 

 Jiay has no value as a cod-fishing ground, and only a few si)ecimens in 

 poor condition were captured here and there. The water is not only 

 too fresh for this species, but owing to the stiong <'urrentsi)roduced by 

 the imnuinse discharge from several rivers and by the tides an unusual 

 amount of sand and mud is constantly held in suspension. 



Knlulcak dround. — Kulukak Bay occupies a large part of the region 

 included between' Cape (Jonstantine and Cape Newenhani, and contains 

 Ilagemeister Island and the Walrus group. Within this area codfish 

 are found in various isolated spots, scarcely entitled to the name of 

 banks, but for convenience sake the name of Kulukak Ground has been 

 used to designate them. Extensive shoals occur oft" Ilagemeister and 

 the Walrus Islands, a dei)th of fathoms being found about IS miles 

 to the southward of the latter. The principal fishing-spots are outside 



