INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATliOSS, 225 



Slioal-water species were regularly distributed, tlouuders being the 

 principal feature of every liaul. Small specimens of deep-sea sole, 

 Microstomuspaeijicus, were found in 50 fathoms and less, probably the 

 young of the species so plentiful in greater depths, and described by 

 Lockington from immature specimens taken in shoal water. The long- 

 tinned sole, Glyptocephalus zachirus^ was found from the shore to 100 

 fathoms, the finest specimens in the latter depth. These two flounders, 

 approach nearest in edible qualities to the European sole of any fish 

 on the Pacific coast. The flesh of mature si)ecimens is white, gelatin- 

 ous, and exceedingly delicate in flavor. From experiments made on 

 board this vessel, they were found, when kept on ice, to improve until 

 the fourth day, but deteriorated after the seventh. They can be taken 

 only with the beam trawl, or other form of drag net. 



Invertebrates found along shore and to the 100-fathom line differ 

 from those of corresponding depths on the Oregon and M^ashington 

 coasts. The edible red prawns, so abundant north, entirely disapi^ear 

 in this region, and shrimps take their i^lace to a limited extent. Large 

 l^rawns, 6 or 8 inches in length, were obtained occasionally in depths 

 of 50 fathoms or more. 



The common edible crab. Cancer magister, is abundant, and grows 

 larger than it does farther north. Smaller species, Cancer antenna- 

 rius and Cancer prodnctus^ both edible, common along the shores, were 

 not met with north of the California boundary. Very few sea-urchins 

 were taken in shoal water. Cup corals, as well as hydrocorallinie, 

 were met with on rocky or stony bottoms. Several small species of 

 alcyonarians and comatulie were abundant. Ophiuraus and astrophy- 

 tons were found, but not in as great numbers or variety of species 

 as in more northern waters. Gorgonian corals are common close in 

 shore. Starfishes appear to be much the same as those found on the 

 Oregon coast. Holothurians are numerous and are represented by a 

 variety of species; squids and octopi are common and usually very 

 small. Shells were almost invariably small, and of obscure species; 

 several species of brachiopods were dredged, some of them very beau- 

 tiful. Sponges are rather scarce, ascidians and bryozoans common, 

 and annelids abundant and varied in species. 



The invertebrates found between 100 and GOO fathoms were greater 

 in number and in variety of species than in the shoaler waters above 

 described. Sea-urchins were particularly abundant, and a large J)T0- 

 portion of the average haul was composed of them, either a species of 

 tSchizaster not yet named, or a large i^inkisli urchin. Large and small 

 sj^ecimens were found together, but the species were seldom mixed. 



Many large alcyonariau corals resembling !>/•/• /V/i^r were taken in 

 moderate depths, and a very few rare pennatnlas and umbellulas came 

 from the deeper haids. Another rare polyp, Anthomasfns, of which 

 we had previously taken but a single specimen, was found in 550 fath- 

 oms. Deep-water shells were not abundant, and ophiuraus were sur- 

 H. Mis. 113 15 



