INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 273 



as favorable as off Yaquiua Head, but a strong tide was ruiming at the 

 time and may have had more or less effect on the distribution of the fish, 

 as is known to be the case in other places. On many spots over whicli 

 we were drifted the hand lines brought up tiounders, and the beam trawl, 

 put over just before dark, secured between 800 and 900 of these fishes. 



The region about Cape Meares, IG J miles south of Cape Falcon, was 

 subsequently investigated, the beam trawl being first used at station 

 No. 3091, latitude 45° 32' N., longitude ll34o 19' 30" W., depth 87 fath- 

 oms. Half a dozen squid, 100 tiounders, 5 red rockfish, and about 

 a peck of prawns composed the bulk of the catch. In 40 fathoms. 

 Cape Meares bearing E. | S., 4 miles distant, only one red rockfish was 

 taken on the hand lines. A berth nearer shore gave better results, 

 as 14 red rockfish were quickly secured there. During the continuance 

 of this drift a series of trials was also made about Arch Rocks by means 

 of a dory. These rocks lie about 2 miles from Cape Meares and 5 miles 

 from the entrance to Tillamook Bay. Our investigations, however, 

 were not attended witli success, although the search was made as 

 thorough as the time permitted. Attention was first given to the 

 northern side of the rock, but obtaining nothing there, we shifted to 

 the soutli side, where we soon discovered the cause of the barren con- 

 dition of the region. In all sheltered places where the warm rays of 

 the sun could x^enetrate, hundreds of sea lions were hauled out upon 

 the rocks. Sea birds also filled the air and covered the summits of the 

 rocks. The latter likewise consume large quantities of surface fishes, 

 such as herring and smelts, and although none of these species were 

 observed, the presence of the birds indicated their occurrence. 



Off' the entrance to Tillamook Bay, 22 red rockfish, 2 orange rockfish, 

 1 black-cod, 4 cultus-cod, and 1 yellow- striped rockfish were captured. 

 From about 3 miles north of Cape Lookout to some 3 or 4 miles below the 

 cape a very thorough examination of the bottom Avas made close in 

 shore. During fifteen trials none of the baits upon the hooks were 

 disturbed, and it is probable that the sea lions occurring along this 

 region have caused a scarcity of fish. While the inshore work was in 

 progress, the ship ran 10 miles off" the land and made trials with the 

 beam trawl and hand lines. By means of the former a large quantity 

 of fionnders was secured, while with the latter 2 red rockfish, 1 salmon, 

 and a flounder were taken. 



Between Cape Lookout and Siletz Bay thirteen trials were made with 

 hand lines. Fish seemed to be plentiful in a few places, but in the 

 majority only a limited number were obtained. The bottom in this region 

 is sandy. The true cod {(radus morrhna) has been reported from time 

 to time from this section of the coast, but it is very improbable that it 

 occurs there, and none were taken by the Albatross south of the Strait 

 of Juan de Fuca. A few vessels would have no trouble in obtaining 

 good fares of red rockfish and black-cod between Tillamook llock and 

 Yaquina Head, but, as already mentioned, the latter species has not 

 H. Mis. 113 18 



