XCVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



A number of years previously the U. S. S. Tuscarora had run a line 

 of soundings between San Francisco and the Hawaiian Islands, and it 

 was proposed that the new line be made to the northward of the course 

 taken by that ship, with stops for soundings at intervals of 10 and 2 

 miles. The plan finally adopted and carried out was suggested by 

 Lieut. Commander Tanner, namely, to begin the line off Salinas Land- 

 ing, in ]\Ionterey Bay, carry it thence through tlie deep gully which 

 approaches the land very closely at that place, and having reached 

 the open sea, to proceed i)ractically along the arc of a great circle to 

 the eastern end of Ouhu Island, ])assing about 40 miles to the north- 

 ward of the Tuscarora^s sabinarine mountain, an elevation of about 

 1,400 feet above the surrounding ocean bed. The survey at the eastern 

 shore end was first completed, and subsequently, with a full supply of 

 coal, the main part of the line was run between the dates of J^ovember 

 7 and 21. From 10 to 12 soundings were generally made each day, the 

 depths, outside of the continental platform at each end, ranging from 

 2,000 to over 3,000 fathoms, except in a few instances. The ship 

 remained about the Oahu Island until December 11, surveying a route 

 for the shore end of the cable, making some needed repairs, and con- 

 ducting natural-history investigations by means of the beam trawl and 

 tangles. The naturalists also took advantage of the opportunity to 

 secure a large and fine collection of the shore fishes. 



Realizing the importance of obtaining still further information 

 respecting the contour of the ocean bottom between the two countries, 

 and having no instructions to the contrary, Lieut. Commander Tanner, 

 on leaving the Hawaiian Islands, carried a second line of soundings 

 eastward along a rhumb line which intercepted the great-circle line 

 about 35 miles off Salinas Landing. On neither of these lines did the 

 ship encounter the submarine elevation discovered by the Tuscarora. 



Stormy weather was met with during both trips, and it was espe- 

 cially severe during the second one. The completion of the survey was 

 greatly delayed in consequence, and the ship was subjected to unusual 

 strain and wear, but escaped any severe damage. After reaching San 

 Francisco orders were issued to make i)reparations for a third sound- 

 ing trip, this time between Point Conception and Hilo, on the island of 

 Hawaii, and the necessary repairs were at once begun, but by the time 

 they had been completed the ship was required for other service. The 

 U. S. S. Thetis was therefore substituted in her place, and the Albatross 

 was returned to the Fish Commission on March 12, 1892. 



During the cable survey, in addition to the ordinary sounding work, 

 the sainples of the bottom brought up in the cup were examined micro- 

 scopically; the temperature of the water at the surface and bottom Avas 

 constantly observed, series of intermediate temperatures were taken 

 occasionally, and the density of the surf^ice water was fre(]uently deter- 

 mined. The rhumb line run by the Albatross has been considered to 

 have developed the most favorable conditions for a cable route. 



