198 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



at the bead of the bay, and water procured from any of the numerous 

 streams. The beaches were lined with driftwood. 



We remained at anchor until the morning of July 5, under bright, 

 clear skies and pleasant weather during the daytime, but the nights 

 were misty, and an impenetrable wall of fog surrounded the island 

 without a break, totally obscuring everything seaward. 



Adak Island, like most of the Aleutian Chain, is mountainous and 

 wholly devoid of timber; even the stunted growth of alder and willow 

 found on some of the islands is lacking, at least in the region contiguous 

 to the Bay of Waterfalls. The valleys and foothills are covered with 

 a rank growth of grass and wild flowers, which extend high up the 

 mountain sides wherever there is a handful of soil, mosses occurring 

 on the barren heights. 



The naturalists examined the region with the assistance of volun- 

 teers from the officers and crew, trawblines were set without result, and 

 the seine was used wherever suitable beaches could be found, but the 

 waters of the bay were nearly barren of fish, except in the immediate 

 vicinity of fresh- water streams, where trout were plentiful and taken 

 iu large numbers. A few cod, chicken halibut, flounders, and a single 

 Atka mackerel were caught by persistent fishing with hook and line 

 from the ship's rail, and large numbers of fine trout were taken from 

 the streams and lakes by fly flshermen. Land birds were extremely 

 scarce, particularly ptarmigan, which are so plentiful on some of the 

 other islands. The only apparent cause is lack of food in winter when 

 the ground is covered with snow, for here the fresh buds of alder and 

 willow which supply their wants in more favored localities are entirely 

 lacking. The scarcity can hardly be attributed to foxes, for there were 

 few, if any, on that part of the island visited by the collectors. 



Remnants of a copper-fastened boat were found on the shore of a 

 large lake lying about 2 miles northeast of the bay. 



The fog broke at intervals on the morning of July 5, and at 8.40 a. m. 

 we got under way and patrolled off the heads, boarding two sealers, 

 taking several soundings, and fiually anchoring in Chapel Cove for the 

 night. A haul of the seine brought in a number of trout and young cod. 



We were under way again at 2.30 a. m., on the 6t\\, and availed our- 

 selves of the opportunity to further develop the great submarine trough 

 lying south of the Aleutian Chain. Commencing a line of soundings 

 near the entrance of the Bay of Waterfalls, it was carried in a south- 

 easterly direction to 50° 03' N., 174° 30' W., in 2,802 fathoms, the maxi- 

 mum depth of 4,002 fathoms having been found in latitude 50° 28' N., 

 longitude 175° 10' W. From the former position the line was extended 

 in a northeasterly direction, recrossing the depression in 3,794 fathoms. 



Two hauls of the beam-trawl were made in Amukta Pass on the 8th 

 in 283 and 248 fathoms, respectively, the former proving quite rich in 

 branching coral, sponges, hydroids, etc., while the latter was almost bar- 

 ren of life, the net being loaded with volcanic sand and gravel, very light 

 and apparently subject to frequent shifting from the effect of currents. 



