INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 11 



Our supply of trawl anchors, buoys, etc., having been expended, a 

 sufficient number were procured in Victoria and we returned to IS^eah 

 Bay on the niorniiig- of the 31st, prepared to make another attempt at 

 trawl-line fishing in the Straits of Fuca. 



Work was resumed at daylight September 1, and four sets of the 

 trawl line were made between Keah Bay and the Vancouver shore. 

 A few black-cod, red rockfish, and dogfish were taken. In one set the 

 currents were so strong that nearly all the hooks were stripped of bait. 



Four hauls of the beam trawl were made and the list of specimens 

 enlarged by a fine cultus-cod weighing 29 pounds, several crinoids, 

 isopods, and ophiurans. 



We passed the night in 'Seah Bay, commencing work again at day- 

 light on the 2d. Four sets of the trawl line and four hauls of the beam 

 trawl were made between Neah Bay and Pillar Point, where we 

 anchored for the night. The depths ranged from 53 to 123 fathoms, 

 with sandy bottom at three stations, and rocky at the fourth, yet there 

 was nothing taken on the trawl lines except a few dogfish. We did 

 better with the beam trawl, however, and added to our list a young 

 halibut {Hipjmglossoidcs), several specimens of Parophrys vetuliis and 

 Citharichthys sordidus, a dozen young cod, and many crinoids. 



Three sets of the trawl line and one haul of the beam trawl were 

 made on September 3 in from 64 to 95 fathoms, sand or rocky bottom, 

 between Pillar Point and Port Angeles. A few dogfish were the only 

 results from the trawl lines, and there was nothing new among the spec- 

 imens taken with the beam trawl. 



Anchoring in Port Angeles at 4:20 p. m., a haul of the seine was 

 made in which were taken flounders, perch, butter-fish, rock-crabs, 

 sculpins, etc. Another haul of the seine was made early next morn- 

 ing, in which were taken flounders, herring, butter-fish, sculpins, and 

 a single salmon trout. 



Getting under way at 9:20 a. m., a series of hand-line stations were 

 occupied running diagonally across the straits to the vicinity of Vic- 

 toria, in which nothing at all was taken. These trials were made to 

 demonstrate the practicability of that method of fishing in the upper 

 part of the straits, but the currents were so strong that it was quite 

 impossible to keep the lines on or near the bottom except close to 

 land. . Four hauls were made with the beam trawl, three of them quite 

 successful, although nothing new was found. 



We have demonstrated the existence of several species of sea fishes 

 in the open waters of the Straits of Fuca, and have also shown the 

 impracticability of taking them in paying quantities by the usual 

 methods. Should the black-cod ever take the place it deserves in the 

 market, means will doubtless be devised for its capture, even in the 

 straits. In the vicinity of Cape Flattery the currents reach the bottom 

 with strong scouring effect, and the state of tides on the surface is no 

 indication of their condition at the bottom. A heavy confused swell 



