INVESTIGATIONS OF THE- ALBATROSS. 279 



moviny south tlie whales are invariably fat, contaiiiiug 50 jier cent 

 more oil than ou the return north. Twenty-one men and nine boats are 

 employed at this station during the whaling" season. Only two men 

 are retained in the summer, to look after the boats and bnildings. 

 The crew receives a lay of one-tiftieth, the harpoouer or shooter (the 

 harpoon being fired from a gun) one-sixteenth. 



From San Simeon Bay to and beyond Point Conception, whiting, red 

 rockfish, black-cod, and deep-sea sole were taken in nearly every haul 

 of the beam trawl, but not many specimens at any one time. Windy 

 weather prevented the hand lines from being nsed successfully. One 

 morning was spent in seining "on the beach at Santa Barbara; vivipa- 

 rous perch were the predominating species. Summer is the best season 

 for fishing in this vicinity. Crab nets were set in various places for 

 the purpose of capturing specimens of the salt-water crayfish, but none 

 were obtained, as this species is rare in the immediate neighl)orhood of 

 Santa Barbara. The fishermen obtain their supplies about 11 miles 

 farther south and among the outlying islands. 



Fishing was next resumed in Monterey Bay, on the return trip toward 

 San Francisco, and the work was actively carried on with several kinds 

 of apparatus. Perch and smelt were taken in considerable numbers in 

 the drag seines. One small striped bass* was also cai>tured by the same 

 means, and it is thought that this is the most southern point from which 

 this species has been recorded. Gill nets and a cod trawl were set 

 about 1^ miles from the anchorage in the harbor. One barracuda was 

 taken in the former, but no fishes were secured with the latter, although 

 starfishes of several species were attached to the hooks. The winter 

 fishing-ground is from 5 to G miles farther oft' shore, but in very tine 

 weather red rockfish are frequently caught close to the head of the bay. 

 The Monterey fishermen generally fish in winter on grounds contiguous 

 to the southern entrance to the bay. Those at Santa Cruz resort to a 

 small rocky bank which lies a short distance southerly from Santa 

 Cruz light. This bank is also extensively fished on in the summer. 

 Gill nets and drag seines are employed on sandy bottoms and smooth 

 beaches in different parts of the bay. 



Fish of all kinds were unusually scarce the past winter in Monterey 

 Bay. This was supposed to be due to the very extensive rainfall which 

 had taken place. This bay seems to be much affected by storms. 

 Twenty-four hours after a heavy rain the surface becomes covered with 

 muddy water, which has the effect of driving the fish away, but they 

 return shortly after the storm has subsided. Continuously stormy 

 weather has a tendency to keep the fish away for comparatively long- 

 periods, frequently for a week or ten days at a time. Notwithstanding 

 this fact, however, Monterey Bay is one of the most productive fishing- 

 grounds on the California coast. 



* Roccus lineatus, introiliicetl from the Atlantic antluow becoming comniou. 



