84 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



positions being from 180 to 200 miles from the Pribilof Islands in north- 

 easterly, northwesterly, southwesterly, and southerly directions. With 

 respect to their feeding-grounds in August, Commander Tanner makes 

 the following remarks: 



The 100-fathom curve from the one hundred and seventieth to the one hundred 

 and seventy-fourth meridian is a favorite feeding-ground, where scattered seals were 

 frequently observed from the decks of the vessel, a sure indication that it would 

 have been a prolific hunting-ground had we hove to and sent out boats. Next to 

 this region, the largest numbers were observed near the northern extremity of radial 

 No. V, and it soon became evident that the August feeding-grounds were to the 

 westward of the meridian of the Pribilof Islands. Earlier in the season they would 

 doubtless have been found in greater numbers east of that meridian, where their 

 food, composed largely of codfish, would still abound in the shoaler waters of 

 eastern Bering Sea. 



The restriction of the fishery work to a period of scarcely more than 

 a month's duration made it necessary to so hasten its progress that the 

 fishing trials could not, in most cases, be conducted with sufficient 

 thoroughness to satisfactorily demonstrate the productiveness of the 

 different grounds examined. Notwithstanding this fact, however, the 

 results obtained have enabled Commander Tanner to reach certain 

 conclusions which it is important to note in this connection. So far 

 as known at present, Baird Bank and Slime Bank, in Bristol Bay, 

 described in previous reports, afford the only profitable cod fishing in 

 Bering Sea on a commercial basis, although this species has also been 

 taken to a slight extent on the Kulukak Ground and is sufficiently 

 abundant along the shores of the Aleutian Islands to supply the local 

 demand. With respect to other parts of the sea, Commander Tanner 

 makes the following statement: 



Banks have been reported in various parts of Bering Sea, but we have no data at 

 present that would justify a fisherman in visiting them as a commercial venture. A 

 vessel can anchor anywhere inside of the 100-fathom line and by persistent fishing 

 take enough to " fill the decks," to use a common expression, where a mess for all 

 hands has been caught. The same may be done in calm, smooth weather, when the 

 ship is lying dead in the water, yet the locality might be worthless commercially; 

 and, in fact, such is the case over the greater portion of Bering Sea. The search for 

 cod in paying 'quantities would be confined to spots where the bottom is free from 

 mud, and a glance at the chart will show the prescribed areas where success would 

 be probable. 



First, a stretch of 60 miles or more will be observed ESE. (mag.) of St. George 

 Island, in from 70 to 80 fathoms, coarse sand and gravel, and fine dark sand, near the 

 100-fathom curve. Another spot having favorable indications lies about 50 miles NE. 

 by N. (mag.) from the island, in 40 fathoms, gray sand and rocky, and fine gray sand. 

 A region of considerable area, having promising features, lies from 180 to 200 miles 

 NE. (mag.) of St. Paul Island in from 20 to 30 fathoms, fine gray sand and shells. A 

 spot about 42 miles N. by W. i W. (mag.) from northeast point of St. Paul Island 

 has been reported as a bank, and has favorable indications, in about 40 fathoms, sand 

 and gravel. There are other places between the above spot and Nunivak where a 

 certain degree of success might be expected, although our examination did not 

 develop a particularly rich fauna. There is also a region near the 100-fathom curve, 

 in from 70 to 90 fathoms, fine gray sand and rocky bottom, lying from W. by S. to 

 SW. by W. (mag.) of St. Paul Island, which promises well, although the depth is 

 greater than fishermen are in the habit of resorting to in this region. 



