in EErORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



deptli increased to 165 fathoms at 3 miles, and 0L8 fatlioius iit 11 miles, 

 soiindinii'S having been taken at 1 mile intervals. Extending the line 

 17 miles with inereasing intervals of 2, .">, and •! miles, the depths 

 increased to SOS fathoms, the character of bottom remaining the saiiu', 

 thns insnring a secnre bed of soft mnd in Avhich a cable would soon 

 sink beyond all its enemies. 



From the above position, 28 niiles from the initial station, an approx- 

 imate great-circle course was taken, de])ths increasing uniformly to the 

 normal ocean bed in 2,500 fathoms, and reaching a depth of 2,895 

 fathoms in latitude 33° 12' north, bottom of brown ooze. Mnd took 

 the place of ooze at the last station, and an interval of 8 miles showed 

 225 fathoms less water, with small fragments of lava intermixed with 

 the mud. The bottom soils from every station were submitted to micro- 

 scopic examination, and the tirst warning of marked elevations of the 

 ocean bed were almost invariably discovered by this means. 



Uniform or slightly increasing depths continued for 50 miles followed 

 by a gradual ascent, until in latitude 32° 41' north we found ourselves 

 on the summit of an elevation having 2,011 fathoms of water. The 

 angles were so snuiU and regular that the shoaling could not be consid- 

 ered as an obstruction, but an abrupt descent of 392 fathoms in the 

 next 2 miles might be considered in that light. Traces of lava soon 

 disappeared, but mud extended 12 miles from the summit, and was then 

 replaced by brown ooze, which, with normal depths, extended to lati- 

 tude 31° 43' north. Here the line was dropped and we returned to 

 jNIonterey Bay for the purpose of further developing the submarine can- 

 yon extending seaward from Salinas Landing, which, for convenience, 

 will hereafter be referred to as the "cable trough." It was thought 

 that more uniform depths might possibly be found by bearing slightly 

 to the westward of the first line, but there was little choice between 

 them. Having completed the examination, we returned to San Fran- 

 cisco, reaching port October 24. 



The meteorological conditions, while unfavorable for the prosecution 

 of the survey, were not unusual for the season of the year. Fogs pre- 

 vailed some i)ortion of each day in the vicinity of the landj strong 

 coast winds with hazy, cloudy weather, extended 100 miles or more 

 offshore; cloudy weather was the rule, and a southeast gale with heavy 

 seas and drenching rain was encountered during the last two days the 

 vessel was engaged on the line. 



The preliminary trip developed a few weak points which were reme- 

 died in a couple of days, and the remainder of the outJit, completed 

 during our absence, was taken on board. The 2,000 pounds of sound- 

 ing wire contracted for by the Navy Department for the survey had not 

 arrived. We waited for it until October 31; then with 100 pounds pro- 

 cured fronj the storehouse, 100 pounds from the Thetis, and a similar 

 amount belonging to this vessel we left the navy yard, took on board 190 



