INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 275 



dredging and fishing to the southward and westAvard of the reef. One 

 haul with the beam trawl showed the bottom to be very rich in phices. 

 Only 1 cultus-cod, 1 rockfish, and 1 sculpin were taken with the hand 

 lines. 



This was the last fishing work carried on during the cruise, but after 

 a trip to the Columbia River, soundings were begun off Cape Sebastian 

 and were extended as far as Cape Mendocino, California. The char- 

 acter of the bottom along this part of the coast is not such as would 

 lead one to expect the presence of fishes in large numbers, but some 

 localities may be found where good fishing can be obtained. 



The capture of halibut off Cape Mendocino has been reported on 

 several occasions. The captain of the steam fishing schooner George 

 L. Chance, of Portland, Oregon, states that in the latter part of July, 

 1889, he secured a number of halibut close to the cape, in a depth of 40 

 fathoms. As the feeding-ground in tliis locality covers only a very 

 small area, it is not probable that many halibut need be looked for 

 there. Heceta Bank is probably the only groun d south of Cape Flattery 

 where halibut may be expected to remainfor any length of time. On 

 the evening of August 7 the George L. Chance anchored on the southern 

 part of that bank and jmt over hand lines. Several small halibut were 

 caught in the course of a short time, and, thinking they must be 

 abundant, a trawl line was set. The next morning, on hauling it, the 

 heads of 11 halibut werie found attached to the hooks, but sharks and 

 dogfish had devoured the bodies. Further efforts also proved fruitless, 

 and the vessel proceeded to Flattery Bank, where a fare was obtained. 



POINT ARENA TO SANTA BARBARA, CAL. (MARCH AND APRIL, 1890). 



The Italian and Greek fishermen of San Francisco fish the year 

 round in various localities, both to the north and south of tlie Golden 

 Gate. The most northern limit to their grounds is Point Arena, the 

 most southern. Point Ano Il^uevo. Hand-line fishing is principally car- 

 ried on between Point Reyes and Point Arena, in depths of 10 to 30 fath- 

 oms. Extra large red rockfish andcultus-cod are secured off Point Reyes, 

 and as good fares may be obtained within 2 or 3 miles of the shore, 

 attention is seldom i^aid to the adjacent deeper waters. Red rockfish 

 are chiefly taken in this locality, but other species are also caught in 

 smaller quantities. The red rockfish is also abundant in the vicinity 

 of Bodega Head and Tomales Point. Fishing is carried on in Tomales 

 Bay during the entire year, drag seines and three-mesh trammel nets 

 being used for the capture of red rockfish, perch, flounders, smelt, sea 

 bass, herring, and anchovies. From 30 to 40 fishermen confine their 

 operations exchisively to this bay, making no attempts to try on any 

 of the offshore grounds. The catch is marketed in San Francisco, 

 being transported there by rail. 



In Bodega Bay fishing is also prosecuted throughout the year, by 

 means of hand lines and drag seines. The principal species obtained 

 here are tomcod, red rockfish, and flounders. 



