INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 255 



was not determined, but may be described as rusty-brown in color, from 

 6 to 18 inches in diameter, and with long', slender tentacles well pro- 

 vided with stinging cells. They inhabit an intermediate zone not far 

 from the bottom, and their numbers increase with the advance of the 

 season, until they become a great nuisance to the lishermen. Star- 

 fishes are abundant both in numbers and species. Si)onges, sea- 

 urchins, various species of crustaceans, shells, and other invertebrates, 

 including many forms of hydroids, are generally found in large num- 

 bers. 



The principal feature of tlie many hauls on Baird Bank was the great 

 abundance of starfishes, of at least a dozen species, one large variety 

 predominatiug. They composed the bulk of nearly every haul. Sponges, 

 sea-urchins, shells, and other invertebrates were found in great num- 

 bers, about in the order mentioned as regards abundance. Much of 

 Baird Bank is covered with hydroids, which were brought up in matted 

 bunches containing many species. Sculpius, small alligator-fishes, 

 flounders, and other species occurred in every haul, and an occasional 

 large skate would appear among them. Codfish and halibut usually 

 avoided the net, yet specimens were taken occasionally. Annelids 

 were common in most hauls, and one haul in x)articular (Ko. 3287) con- 

 tained fully 2 bushels, consisting mainly of one species, which probably 

 furnished the chief tbod of codfish on that i)art of the bank. A variety 

 of small crustaceans and naked mollusks may be added, as they were 

 pretty evenly distributed over the bottom. It was observed that rep- 

 resentatives of nearly every species found in similar depths on Slime 

 Bank were included in each haul. 



To the northward a marked change took place in the bottom fauna, 

 ophiurans and astrophytons exceeding all other forms in abundance, 

 while large bivalve shells resembling Schizothwrus appeared for the 

 first time. It will be observed that the bottom diftered in character 

 from that of Baird Bank, more or less mud entering into its composition. 



In Herendeen Bay, during July and August, the streams were full 

 of dog salmon. Excellent flounders and large edible i)rawns were taken 

 in abundance at the anchorage in Mine Harbor. Later in the season 

 dredging was carried to the deeper waters of Bering Sea, north and 

 Avest of Unalaska, with very interesting results. It was new ground 

 and most of the material obtained was so unfamiliar as to prevent 

 identification. At station No. 3307 (1,103 fathoms), Myctoplium (three 

 species), Macrurus, Anthnora, and several other genera of fishes were 

 taken, while among invertebrates there were five species of starfishes, 

 alcyonarians, sea-urchins, two species of large prawns, an octopus, etc. 

 Increasing the depth to 1,000 fathoms at station No. 3308, there Averc, 

 among fishes, Sijnaphohranchm^ Antimora, Notacanfhus, Myctophutti, 

 Careproctus, etc., and among the invertebrates, sea-anemones, holothu- 

 rians, medus;e, starfishes, large crabs, crimson i^rawns, etc. Station 

 No. 3311, in Si) fathoms, at the entrance to Captain Harbor, yielded sev- 

 eral new fishes and sponges, besides some fine brachiopods and many 



