210 BEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



which trial lines have been used are particularly unfavorable for the 

 capture of this slow-biting fish. Trawl lines set on favorable bottom 

 near the 100-fathom line would be an interesting experiment, from which 

 good results might be expected to follow. 



Fishing trials. — It maybe asked why we did not make more extended 

 fishing experiments at the various stations. There are several reasons, 

 among them the necessity of completing the lines as quickly as prac- 

 ticable in that region of fogs, to prevent the vessel from drifting out of 

 her course, it being desirable to locate the stations as accurately as 

 possible as bases for future exploration. Another and vital reason was 

 the lack of time. 



Occupation of a station. — The following details are given as an evi- 

 dence of the time and labor required for the full occupation of a station: 



When the vessel is under sail and steam, as often happens, the former 

 is clewed up, and furled, if necessary, before the station is reached. 

 Having arrived on the desired spot, a sounding is made, say, in GO 

 fathoms, surface and bottom temperatures being taken; time, 3 minutes. 

 Serial temperatures are then observed in 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 

 fathoms ; time, 10 minutes. As many fishing lines as the watch on deck 

 can attend are put over for 15 minutes, followed by the beam-trawl 

 with a scope of 150 fathoms on the dredge rope; time, G minutes. The 

 trawl is then dragged 15 minutes, and hoisted aboard in 10 minutes, the 

 haul having occupied 31 minutes. The surface tow-net was in operation 

 while the trawl was on the bottom. The intermediate tow-net follows 

 the beam-trawl, and is lowered to 50 fathoms in about 4 minutes, towed 

 10 minutes, messenger sent down to close the lower net; time, 3 minutes, 

 and it is then hoisted on board in about 3 minutes, the haul having 

 occupied 20 minutes. Thus 1 hour and 19 minutes are required for the 

 fall occupation of a station in GO fathoms, under favorable conditions. 

 A detention of 2 minutes would be about the average if we were simply 

 running a line of soundings in the same depth. 



It would require 3 hours at least to set a trawl line in addition to the 

 operations detailed, and satisfactory trials with hand lines can only be 

 made from boats. Further investigations in this direction are desir- 

 able, but they should be taken up when the vessel is not required 

 to maintain her position on a line, and can afford to wait for favorable 

 weather, as she will frequently find it necessary to do in Bering Sea. 



On September 8, at G p. in., we left Dutch Harbor under the following 

 orders from Commander Xicoll Ludlow, United States Navy, command- 

 ing the United States naval force in Bering Sea: 



You will proceed to sea as soon as ready, and so far as possible complete your work 

 in and about Bering Sea in connection with your investigations, under the instruc- 

 tions of the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, and your patrol 

 work which is carried on at the same time. You will return to Dutch Harbor by 

 the 10th of September, fill up with coal, and return to San Francisco via Sitka, 

 Should the weather and other circumstances permit, you will take the route to the 

 north of the Sannak, on your way to the eastward, and keep a sharp lookout en 

 route for the British steamer Warlock, the British schooner Diana, and the American 



