290 RKrOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



fathoms. Trawl lines were not set, as the bottom was rough and rocky, 

 and it was possible to cover the ground more rapidly by means of hand 

 lines. 



Bait is as abundant and varied at Chernoffsky as at Iliuliuk. Her- 

 ring and other migratory iishes school al)out this part of the island in 

 considerable numbers. There is a line, smooth beach at Chernott'sky, 

 well suited to the use of seines, and gill nets could also be set to good 

 advantage in this locality, but the former method is preferable. 



Makushin Bay and ("hernotfsky are the best harbors on the north 

 side of Uualaska, west of Cape Cheerful. They are accessible in most 

 weather when fishing vessels would be likely to seek shelter on a coast 

 unprovided with lights or buoys. Chernplisky is landlocked and large 

 enough to accommodate a good-sized fleet of small vessels. 



But little profit could be realized by San Francisco merchants in the 

 employment of the small vessels hitherto described to fish on banks so 

 far from any market, yet vessels of this size would have a decided 

 advantage in fishing here over the larger ones which visit the Okhotsk 

 Sea. This is owing to the frequent change in position which would be 

 necessary, the nearness of the grounds to the coast making it also 

 possible readily to seek shelter. Should an extensive fishery grow up 

 in this region, it would probably be conducted from local stations by 

 means of small boats and small vessels, employing hand lines; and, 

 after the preliminary curing of the cod, shipments could be made to 

 market in vessels of large tonnage. 



Miscellaneous. — In Makushin Bay large quantities of humpback 

 salmon, trout, young cod, and flounders were captured by means of 

 the drag seine. The beaches are smooth and comparatively free from 

 rocks and otlier obstacles to seining. Two small streams enter the 

 bay not far from the settlement. The larger one brings down consider- 

 able quantities of mud, which is deposited in the bay at half tide, dis- 

 coloring the water for ab(mt 2 miles along the shore. The nuiddy 

 water, however, has no apparent effect upon the salmon, as they runup 

 this stream to the same extent as up the clearer one. 



The humpback salmon enter the streams first, followed by the silver 

 salmon. The same is true of the streams at Iliuliuk, Captain Harbor, 

 and Chernoffsky. Considerable collecting was done at each of these 

 places by means of drag seines and other appliances, with good results. 



The harbors, bays, and streams of Unalaska are well supplied witli 

 salmon in their season, but the run is not sufficiently large to support 

 extensive canning operations. 



From the statement of fisliing stations, which accompanies this 

 report, it will be seen that 'M trials with haiul lines were made between 

 I'riest Bock and Umnak Island. In 14 of these trials nothing was 

 taken, but in the other L'3 the combined catch amounted to 103 cod and 

 21 halibut. The total weight of the cod was 1,834 pounds, an average 

 of something over 11 jiounds each; and tlie total weight of the halibut 

 292^ pounds, an average of nearly 14 pounds to each fish. 



