23() KEPOirr oi';_^ commij^sioNek of fish and fisheries. 



sliiiiiii) or prawns were hirger, ^ehastolohns took the jdiicc of Sehas- 

 todes, and the various slioal-water tiouuders were replaced by those of 

 deoi»t'r habitat. 



Coimiieucinjj;" at the head of Bristol Bay, off the Nakiiek River, in 

 depth of 3 to 8 fathoms, sand, a variety of fish were taken, such as 

 vsea trout (Hcvaf/rammus), liounders, young salmon, rock-cod, sculjMns 

 and a few specimens of X//;rtr/.s, with scattering specimens of shrimp, 

 shells, startisli and other invertebrates. 



Oti' the entrance to tlie Nushagak Eiver, in depths of 5 to 12 fathoms, 

 sandy bottom, with occasional patches of gravel or pebbles, half a dozen 

 species of starfish were found in great numbers; sea-urchins were taken 

 by the bushel; and shrimps, crabs, sponges, annelids, mollusca, sea- 

 anemones, hydroids, and bryozoa were abundant. The fishes were 

 represented by Ilexaf/ramnius, Muramoides, pollock, several species of 

 sculijins and flounders, besides a variety of small obscure si)ecies. 



Scattering specimens of codfish were taken with the hand lines, but 

 they were more plentiful off Cape Oonstautiue in from 12 to 18 fathoms, 

 sand or gravel bottom. Our route from the Nushagak to the Knsko- 

 kwim was inside of the Walrus (4 roup and through Hagemeister Chan- 

 nel. Fine sand bottom was found from Cape Constantine to Round 

 Island, muddy bottom thence to the vicinity of Hagemeister Island, 

 and sandy thence to Cape Newenham. Investigations were confined to 

 20 fathoms or less, yielding an occasional codfish or young halibut, 

 pollock, five or six species of flounders; Arctic tomcod and sculpins 

 were quite plentiful. Alligator-fish, capelin, and a variety of Agonidce, 

 besides several other si)ecies of small size, were found, many of them 

 undescribed. Shrimp and i:)rawns were large and consi)icuous in the 

 hauls; numy of them are doubtless undescribed. The bulk of most of 

 the hauls was composed of starfish. There was a greater variety 

 among the ascidians found at the diflerent stations than among other 

 invertebrates. Sliells, sand-dollars, ophiurans, hermit-crabs, and astro- 

 ]>hytons of about the same species were generally distributed over the 

 region, while hydroids and bryozoa occasionally ai)peared. 



I"'ronT Cape Xewenham toward the northwest cape of Unimak the 

 de]»tli increased to 25 fathoms, gravel bottom, miles from land ; shoaled 

 to 13i fathoms, fine gray sand, at 20 miles, then gradually increased to 

 2(1 fathoms, M'ith tin* same character of bottom at about 00 miles from 

 the cape. I<'rom tliis point mud began to appear, and soon be(;ame the 

 prin(;ii)al ingredient of the bottom soil. 



Scalt(ning codfish were found on the gravel bottom; were faiily' 

 abundant on the rise from 13.J to 25 fathoms, and gradually disappeared 

 as we approached muddy bottom. Several species of flounders and 

 sculpins were taken; alii gator- fish and other small species Avere com- 

 mon; and cluster's of large barnacles, nmssels, and a few other shells 

 were taken, besides the common forms of invertebrates. As the char- 

 acter of tln^ bottom changed, and mud became mixed with the sand. 



