220 IM-.I'()I."1' Ol' COMMISSIONEK OF FTSII AND I'ISIIKRIES. 



oi" Point Reyes, and at (5:15 we anchored in Drake ]iay lor tlic uifibt. 

 (iettiii<;" nnder way at 6:15 the followinij' morning", a line of died^ings 

 was run to >«oonday Kock, and the region examined Avith dredge, 

 tangles, and hand lines. The beam trawl was used westward of the 

 bank to de|)ths exceeding 500 fathoms. Work continued until 8 ]>. m., 

 when we steamed slowly inshore and lay to within the range of Point 

 Reyes light. The weather was unsettled, with frequent showers, and 

 the wind increased during th«^ niglit. Work was resumed at daybreak 

 next morning, however, and a line of dredgings run to the vicinity of 

 Point Reyes. Wind and sea having increased until it was too boister- 

 ous to continue work, we came to in Drake Bay at 9:30 a. m. Seining 

 and fishing parties went out, but the swell outside and the surf on the 

 beach rendered operations exceedingly difticult. 



The M'ind and sea moderated during the night, and at 0:10 on the 

 morning of the 34:th we got under way and steamed to Oordell Bank. 

 A trawl line was set and a boat anchored, having mast and flag to 

 serve as a central point from which soundings were taken at intervals 

 of one mile, over a rough rocky bottom, and the tangles were hauled 

 occasionally. Hand lines Avere used from time to time, but the swell 

 and strong current made it difficult to keep them on the bottom. Rock- 

 cod were taken at most of the stations, but not in great numbers. Our 

 examination showed rocky i)atches extending someAAiiat farther than 

 indicated by the chart, except in a Av^esterly direction, where the depths 

 increased rapidly with a bottom of green mud. The trawl lines brought 

 up 45 rock-cod, averaging G^ pounds, and 2 cultus-cod, weighing 25 

 pounds each. 



Starting about 4 p. m., we ran a line of soundings to Point Arena, 

 where we commenced to develop the 200-fafthom line. Work Avas con- 

 tinued until 0:46 a. m. on the 25th, a\ hen bad weather forced us to cease 

 o|)erations; and, rather than lay out a gale, Ave ran for ])ort, anchoring 

 off Saucelito at 9:35 p. m., crossing over to San Francisco the iollowing 

 morning. 



The weather clearing on the 27th, we left ])ort at 6:20 \t. ni. and, 

 steaming to the northward, took upour Avork ott" Wallalla Point, at 5:40 

 on the morning of the 28th, developing the 200-fathom line to the south- 

 Avard as far as Russian River, Avhere a series of dredgings was made 

 over smooth sand or mud bottom, cpiite rich in the various species of 

 flatfish. The last haul Avas finished at 10 \). m., Avhen we lay to for the 

 night, the Aveather being overcast and rainy. Resuming Avork at day- 

 light next morning, March 29, a line of dredgings was run to Point 

 Reyes, and thence to the vicinity of Point Bouita. We then (entered 

 the (lolden Gate, and, at 2:30 p. m., anchored in the harbor of San 

 Francisco, Avhere the shi]) Avas coaled. 



At 4:10 p. m. on April 2, we got under way and proceeded to sea. 

 Standing to the southward under steam and sail, av(^ i)assed Pigeon 

 Point light at 9:49, and at 11 :10 cast the lead in 208 fathoms, the light 



