278 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



iiing- off Drake Bay. In the first haul 100 flounders, of several species, 

 half a dozen anchovies, a few herring, red rockfish, and tomcod were 

 collected. Otf Balleuas Bay, 4 miles SW. by W. from Duxbury Point, 

 50 anchovies, 1 smelt, 3 tomcod, 20 flounders, half a dozen perch, and 

 a large mass of otlier material, composed the catch. One mile WNW. 

 from the northern end of Four Fathom Bank, in 11 fathoms of water, 

 flounders, soles, anchovies, and shrimps were taken. 



The sole obtained in this region are small compared with those found 

 in deep water off Monterey Bay and to the westward of the Farallon 

 Islands. This spe(;ies is pronounced by epicures to excel in edible 

 qualities nearly all tlie other deep-sea fishes of the Pacific coast. It 

 seldom reaches the San Francisco market, however, as the fishermen do 

 not push into sutticieut depth of water to procure them. The steamer 

 U. S. Grant, of San Francisco, has been engaged for some time in deep- 

 water drag-net seining, but its operations have been restricted to water 

 of too slight a dejjth to procure more than scattering specimens. 



Trials with hand lines and beam-trawl were made off" Cypress Point, 

 but without much success. During the summer fish are said to be 

 abundant in tliis locality, but in winter the fishermen spend no time 

 upon this ground. In deep water off Monterey Bay very large deep- 

 sea sole * were taken in considerable numbers , and in nearly all hauls 

 made farther to tlie southward, in depths over 90 or 100 fathoms, the 

 sole and black-cod were obtained in greater or less abundance. The 

 edible qualities of the latter species are inferior, however, to what they 

 are in the neighborhood of Cape Flattery. 



A cod trawl was set off the northern entrance to San Simeon Bay, 

 on a sharp, rocky patch of ground, but no edible fishes were caught, 

 althougli si arfishes were numerous. San Simeon Bay has been for 

 many years one of the principal whaling stations on the Pacific coast, 

 and very little attention has been paid to other kinds of fishing. Dur- 

 ing the past winter ten boxes of smelts, holding 100 pounds per box, 

 were secured by one man, using gill nets. This is the largest amount 

 offish ever taken during a single season. 



Seven whales were taken during each of the seasons 1888 and 1889. 

 Those obtained in 1888 yielded ISO barrels of oil, while 2G0 barrels 

 were taken from the catch of 1889. This diflerence was due to the 

 larger size of the whales in the latter year. Whales frequent this 

 region during the months of December, January, and February, but in 

 vsome years a few are seen as late as the middle of March. It is during 

 these months that the "down run" takes place. The " up run" is of 

 shorter duration, lasting, as a rule, from four to six weeks. While 



*The deep-sea solo taken here were by far the largest found by the Albatross in 

 the North racifio. The largest Hpcoinuins weighed 8 pounds, while specimens of 4 

 to 6 pounds were couunon. It was found that they iuijirovnd by being kept on ice, 

 and a considerable number were carried to San Francisco for distribution. They 

 were highly appreciated by those who received them. 



