214 IIKPOKT OK COM.MISSIONHR OF FISH ANT) FISHERIES. 



iii«: lioiul to wind ;iii(l soa, but it moderated next inoiniii^i;, and we 

 <-rossed tlie Columbia lliver Bar at 2 p. ni., aneliorin^- oft' Astoria an 

 hour later. We received 50i tons of coal on the ^>th, and at 10:40 next 

 niorninu' jiot under way, crossed the bar at Meridian, and at 3:40 put 

 tlie hand lines over in 40 fathoms, off Falcon. Kocks. A fine salmon 

 was taken on one of the lines. 



The beam trawl and hand lines were used at various stations, work- 

 in «>• to the southward over ground previously sounded. The. various 

 S])ecies of rock-cod, llounders, etc., were found quite ])hMitifully. A 

 thick fog set in at 8 p. m., obliging us to lay to till dayliglit the follow- 

 ing morning, when it partially lifted and we continued our investiga- 

 tions, working to the southward as before. Beam trawl and hand lines 

 were used with good success, and Mr. Alexander made an examination 

 of the shore line in the dory. There are many outlying rocks along 

 this part of the coast, around which we expected to find rock-cod and 

 other species, but we were disap|)ointed. The presence of sea lions on 

 lu'arly every rock may account for this scarcity of lish. Ha^nng 

 reached Cape Lookout we anchoicd under its lee at 5:10 \). in., whei-e 

 w(i found smooth water and excellent ]>rotection from noitherly winds. 



Our attention having been called to a recently discovered bank off 

 Nestuggah, Oregon, reported by Capt. Bell, of the steamer .4. 7^*. Field, 

 we decided to give the region a careful examination. The report stated 

 that 12 fathoms was found 10 miles from land. We sounded at inter- 

 vals of 3 miles, extending the examination several miles north and 

 south of Nestuggah, and found 15 fathoms about 1 mile from shore, the 

 dei)th increasing regularly to 70 fathoms, S to 10 miles off, where the 

 reported bank was said to be. The bottom was of fine gray sand, and 

 the usual varieties of coast fishes were found, but no codfish. The 

 report referred to is more circumstantial than usual, names being given, 

 yet we found that a de]>th of 12 fathoms anywhere in the vicinity of 

 Nestuggah wcmld be but a fraction of a mile from shore and well within 

 sound of the surf. 



Having completed tiie examination of thereporte(l bank we continued 

 work along the coast, and allhongh the weather was boisterous, it was 

 usually clear, with bright moonlight nights, which enabled us to carry 

 on the work continiionsly. Iteaehing the vicinity of Orlbrd lleef on 

 the afternoon of tlie 12tli, iNIr. Alexander went in with the dory and 

 examined that locality, while the yl//^/r/ro.v.s' worked I'arlhcr off shore. 

 He reported sea lions on nearly every rock, and the total absence of 

 fish in their immediate vicinit>; but " sjxjts " were found, a few hun- 

 dred yards to the southward, Avhere <-ultus-cod and the various species 

 of rock-<'od W(M"e taken in large numbers. AN'e were ('(pially successful 

 with the hand lines on ])oar(l shij) at stations south and west of the 

 reef. 



Wind and sea incicascH during t he afternoon, making boat, work and 

 line (ishin^ from the ship so dillicnlt thatwe souglit shelter for the night 



