232 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



were numerous iu the lakes and in the streams flowing from thein. A 

 few flounders and sculpins were the only species taken in the seine the 

 first day. The following day a 40-foot seine was hauled in two of the 

 lakes near the shore, resulting in the capture of trout and sticklebacks 

 only. Quite a number of young salmon were caught at the mouth of a 

 small stream which rushes down the side of a steep hill, but no salmon 

 were found elsewhere in the bay, possibly due to the fact that on this 

 side of the island there are no streams large enough for the ascent of 

 these fishes. 



The water at the mouth of the harbor is very deep. A cod trawl, 

 baited with salt salmon, was set in 40 fathoms near the eastern side of 

 the entrance, and was allowed to remain down seven hours. At the end 

 of that time the catch consisted of 1 halibut weighing 10 pounds, 

 3 skates, 4 sculpins, and 3 starfish, this result not indicating a rich 

 fishing bottom in that locality. One Atka mackerel, the only specimen 

 secured here, was taken on a hand line from the ship's rail. It is pos- 

 sible that this species becomes abundant abont the island at the proper 

 season, especially in view of its proximity to Atka Island, where they 

 occur in immense numbers. 



On July 5 the ship anchored in Chapel Cove, a short distance from 

 the previous locality. At this place the shore is mostly rocky, and 

 only a few beaches were found where the seine could be employed. 

 Two sea trout, and a quantity of young cod, from 2 to 3i inches long, 

 were the only fish secured by this means, and nothing was obtained by 

 the use of hand lines from the ship. 



OFFSHORE INVESTIGATIONS, BERING SEA. 



The first fishing trial with hand lines in the open waters of Bering 

 Sea was made at dredging station 1 No. 3484, latitude 57° 18' NT., longi- 

 tude 171° 54' W., GO fathoms, where 5 cod were taken on muddy bot- 

 tom. They ranged in weight from 13 to 22 pounds, and were in good 

 condition, showing no signs of disease, as frequently happens among 

 the cod caught on the inshore grounds. At station No. 3485, latitude 

 57° 18' N., longitude 172° 34' W., G2 fathoms, one cod weighing 12 

 pounds and one large flounder (Astkerestes stomian) were obtained by the 

 same means. At the latter station the beam trawl brought up a large 

 quantity of Alaskan pollock. 



No trials with hand lines were made on either the 13th or 14th, but 

 at station No. 3489, latitude 57° N., longitude 173° 44' W., 184 fathoms, 

 a small cod was captured in the beam trawl. A cod trawl was baited 

 on the morning of the 13th, but no suitable bottom being found during 

 these two days, it was finally set on the 15th off the village at St. George 

 Island, but nothing was taken. 



1 There are two series of stations made by the Albatross, namely, dredging station 

 and sounding station. The former are simply designated as "station," the latter as 

 "hyd. station." 



