INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 209 



taken in other places, such as the Hospital Bank, an unimportant local- 

 ity on the Kulukak ground, where fishing vessels from Baird Bank 

 sometimes seek shelter during northerly and northeasterly storms; also 

 along the shores of the Aleutian Islands, where a sufficient quantity are 

 secured for local consumption. 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 CO miles or more will be observed ESE. (mag.) of 

 St. George Island, in from 70 to SO fathoms, coarse sand and gravel, and 

 fine dark sand near the 100-fathom curve. Another spot having favor- 

 able 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 con- 

 siderable 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. £ 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. 



The report of the fishery expert, Mr. A. B. Alexander, gives the 

 experience of this vessel in fishing with hand-lines from the rail, but 

 in considering the results it must be remembered that the vessel was 

 always under way, frequently drifting rapidly before boisterous winds 

 and heavy seas. The duration of trials never exceeded twenty minutes, 

 and other work was frequently carried on when line fishing was imprac- 

 ticable: heme some of the most favorable localities escaped a fair trial 

 with hook and line. 



It is reasonable to suppose that the presence of cod varies with the 

 seasons in the shoal waters of Bering Sea as in other localities, and that 

 they will be found in greater depths as summer approaches. 



Halibut. — The Albatross has never taken halibut in any considerable 

 quantities in Bering Sea, and none of large size. The conditions under 

 F. n. 94 14 



