236 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



same grounds, and their scarcity at this trial is not to be taken as an 

 indication that they are abseut from the region, the state of the tide 

 and other conditions being sufficient to account for their biting at one 

 time of day and not at another, as happens on other fishing-grounds. 



As explained in a previous report, the fishing-ground off Chernofski 

 extends only a short distance from the shore, the continental platform 

 in this region being comparatively, narrow. A run of 20 miles NjS"W. 

 from the above position carried the ship into a depth of 407 fathoms. 

 Hydrographic work was carried on during the remainder of the day in 

 the direction of St. George Island, which we reached in the afternoon 

 of the ISth. Two hauls of the beam trawl were made the same day 

 between that island and St. Paul Island, in depths of II and 43 fath- 

 oms, only a small amount of material being obtained, and the hand 

 lines employed in the same places failing to secure a single fish. The 

 last station was 10 miles off the western end of St. George Island, 

 which bore SE. £ E. From that position the hydrographic work was 

 carried WSW. to a distance of about 225 miles from the island, mostly 

 through deep water in which no fishing trials could be made. 



On August 31 five trials with hand lines were made in Akutan Bay, 

 formed by Akun and Akutan islands, the total catch amounting to 7 

 cod. The depth of water ranged from 36 to 51 fathoms. The beam 

 trawl was also hauled twice in the same bay, bringing up 11 large and 

 24 small flounders and a number of sculpins, crabs, and shrimps. The 

 indications point to a fair feeding-ground for fishes, and it is reasona- 

 ble to suppose that the cod resort to this bay for spawning in the fall 

 and winter months. Should that prove to be the case Akutan Bay 

 would be a favorable locality at that season for small-boat fishing. 



In the evening the ship anchored in Akun Cove, on the NE. side of 

 Akun Island. At the head of this cove there is a small lake which is 

 separated from the salt water by a narrow spit composed of pebbles, 

 stones, and sand. Three good-sized trout, several small ones, and a 

 number of young salmon were caught in this lake by means of a 120-foot 

 drag seine. 



During September 1 a line of soundings was carried from Akun 

 Island on a WNW. | W. course, the depths ranging from 74 to 96 

 fathoms. The beam trawl was used at four stations, but as the bottom 

 seemed everywhere unfavorable to the occurrence of cod the hand lines 

 were not put over. 



On the following day dredging was carried on between St. George and 

 St. Paul islands, and an attempt was also made to fish with hand lines, 

 but the wind was fresh and the ship drifted too rapidly for the leads to 

 be kept on the bottom. The inquiries made about these islands by the 

 A Ibatross indicate that good fishing is confined to more or less scattered 

 areas of bottom, the total extent of which is small, and a run of only a 

 few miles would carry the ship from a favorable locality to one that 

 seemed entirely barren. The best places are known to the inhabitants 

 of the islands, who are able to locate them by bearings from the shore ; 



