INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 221 



above mentioned bearing? N. 'I W., distant 14.5' miles. This was the 

 first of a series of soundings extendin^s^ across Monterey Bay to tlie 

 vicinity of Cypress Point. The maxinuim depth Avas 958 fathoms. 

 We cast the trawl at 7:40 a. m., April 3, off Point Carmel, and the work 

 of simndinj;- and dredging- continued until 11 :45 p. m., when, the 

 weather becoming misty, we lay to till daylight, within sight of Piedras 

 Blancas light. 



Work was resumed at 5:10 on the morning of the 4th, and carried to 

 the vicinity of San Simeon Bay, where we anchored at 12:35 p. m., the 

 weather having become very boisterous. Seining and fishing parties 

 were out during the afternoon, meeting with fair success. The wind was 

 light from the northwest next morning, increasing to a stiff breeze in the 

 afternoon, with a heavy swell. We were under way at 5:30, and, with 

 the lead and beam trawl, extended our examination southward, defining 

 the 100 and 200 fathom lines across the open bay of Esteros to Point 

 Buchon, and thence to Point San Luis. Soundings were continued 

 throughout the night, a full moon making it practicable to locate sta- 

 tions. A succession of heavy tide rips was encountered while at work 

 off Esteros Bay, which were noticeable from the foct that there was 

 but little wind or sea. 



We were off Point Arguello at midnight with a fresh breeze and 

 heavy swell, making it difficult to carry on our work, but soundings 

 were continued to the southward to the vicinity of Point Conception, 

 and a series of dredgings made daring the day in the deep waters of 

 Santa Barbara Channel. The subsidence of wind and sea after pass- 

 ing Point Conception and entering the channel was quite noticeable. 

 Having finished work, we ran into Santa Barbara, and anchored at 

 5:07 p. m. The naturalists were engaged in shore collecting until noon 

 the next day, the 7th, when we got under way for Santa Rosa Island. 

 The wind was light when we left the anchorage, but a fresh breeze 

 was encountered in midchanuel, which soon increased to a moderate 

 gale with a heavy head sea, until we got under the lee of the land. 

 We anchored in Becher Bay at 4:05 p. m., and the vessel and rigging 

 were soon covered with fine sand, blown from the island. The wind 

 was too high to admit of landing, but having moderated during the 

 night the collectors were out at daylight, returning at 9:30, when we 

 left our anchorage and steamed to the northward against fresh coast 

 winds and a heavy swell, which reduced the speed about 2 knots an 

 hour. We passed Point Conception at 3 : 15, and made Piedras Blancas 

 light at 1 a, m. on the 9th. The region between Point Sur and Lopez 

 l*oint was passed at night going south, and the soundings intended 

 U) define the 200-fathom line ranged from 293 to 426 fathoms, though 

 not more than 5 miles from shore. To define the line more ac:iurately, 

 we made another series of soundings fiom 2 to 3 miles from laud, which 

 still exceeded the depth. 



