INVESTIGATIONS OP THE ALBATROSS. 281 



amounting- to 139 cod, weighing 1,G12 pouucLs. Their stomachs con- 

 tained crabs, holothurians, saiid-lances, and the remains of other fishes. 

 These trials occupied from twelve to twenty minutes each and were made 

 in depths of 13 to G2 fathoms, the bottom being sandy. On the following 

 day hand-lino fishing was continued in connection with the sounding 

 and dredging operations. The same number of fishing trials was made 

 as on the previous day, but the aggregate weight of the cod, 59 in 

 number, was only 590 i)ounds, making the average weight slightly less. 



In the immediate vicinity of Amak Island cod occur only in small 

 numbers, their scarcity being i^robably due to the presence of sea lions. 

 The quantity of fish consumed in this vicinity by these animals must 

 be very large, especially in the winter, when their numbers are greatly 

 augumented by visitors from the north. 



The walrus has always been abundant in this region, and while at 

 anchor off Izenbek Bay, between Amak Island .and the mainland, we 

 observed some 30 or 40 individuals swimming about in the water about 

 three-quarters of a mile from the ship ; 8 or 10 more were hauled out 

 upon the sand-spit at the entrance to the bay. The stretch of coast 

 adjacent to Slime Bank has no available harbors, and should winter 

 fishing ever be carried on there, which is improbable, the vessels would 

 be exi^osed to very severe storms without the means of shelter. Dur- 

 ing the summer heavy winds rarely occur, but moderate gales of short 

 duration are cocasionally experienced; yet, as a rule, the vessels ride 

 them out without difficulty. 



Trawl lines are not used in Bering Sea, the depth of water and char- 

 acter of the bottom making it more convenient to fish with hand lines 

 from dories. A few attempts have been made to employ the trawl lines 

 on Slime Bank, but they soon become thickly covered with the so-called 

 slime, making them difficult to handle, while the catch was also small. 

 While these difficulties would not be encountered elsewhere, the water 

 is generally so shallow and the fish, in suitable places, so abundant, 

 that the hand lines can be oi)erated more readily and economically. 



The fishermen have no trouble in obtaining bait. On leaving port 

 a small quantity of salt salmon and salt herring is placed on board, to 

 use for the first trials, but this is soon replaced by fresh bait taken on 

 the hooks, such as scnlpins, flounders, and other small fish. Halibut 

 are also frequently obtained in sufficient quantities to serve for this 

 purpose, for which they are regarded as nearly equal to S(][uid. All of 

 the halibut taken in Bristol Buy hy the Alhatrofis -were of small size, 

 and it is sai<l that large individuals are rarely obtained. 



Baird Bank is much the largest fishing-ground in Bristol Bay. It 

 extends from oft' Izenbek Bay to the Ugagnk Kiver, a distance of 235 

 miles, and has an extreme width of 59 miles, its total area amounting to 

 about 9,200 square miles. The depths range from 13 to 53 fathoms, and 

 the fauna living upon it is rich and varied. It is well snpjjlied with 

 cod. The name Port Moller Bank, which has been given to it by the 

 fishermen, has been changed to Baird Bank by Capt. Tanner. 



