18 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The order for a cable survey contemplated a single line, but our 

 experience convinced me of tlie advisability of further develoi)ment of 

 the rout(% and on NoNember lit 1 wiote the hydrographer as follows: 



Have iiuislied tlio great-circle route, ^Yi(ll the cxcei»t^ioii of the shore lauding on 

 Oaliu. AVhile it may be considered practicable,! do not feel that any .single line 

 will be wholly satisfactory, and will, therefore, as soon as possible, extend the 

 second route on a rhumb line, which will bo about as far to tlie southward of the 

 Tiiscarora's line as the great circle is to the northward of it. I don't know that it 

 will be any better than the cue we have already examined, but it Avill give us two 

 surveys and a reconnoissance on practically i)arallel lines. 



At 10:50 a. in., December 2, we left port to locate a cable lauding on 

 the east or south side of Oahu. Four of the most promising points 

 were examined, as follows: Hauanma Bay, Manna Loa Bay, Kapua 

 Entrance, and Waikiki Bay. The latter lies about 3 miles from Hono- 

 lulu, and all things considered seems the best, though Kapua Entrjince 

 or Mauua Loa Bay affords i)racticable landings. 



A second line was run from Kaiwi Channel to an intersection with 

 the great circle in latitude 21° 47' north, practically completing that 

 line, and defining another contour line from the shore platform to tln^ 

 ocean bed, about 10 miles south and west of the first one. 



The currents in the vicinity of the islands are strong and erratic, 

 frequently attaining a velocity of 4 to 6 miles per liour on the eastern 

 shores of Oahu, and often reaching the bottom with scouring effect. 

 In KaiAvi Channel there is sufficient drift to prevent the deposit of 

 mud, yet not enough to hinder the growth of various delicate forms, 

 which we found in large numbers. 



A critical examination of the bottom was made in Kaiwi Channel 

 and near the points selected for cable landings with beam trawl and 

 tangles, to determine more definitely the character of bottom and its 

 fauna, having special reference to the existence of coral lumps and 

 such forms as might be destructive to a submarine cable. The general 

 results of these few hauls may be briefly stated as follows: 



Dredging station 3467 : 6 specimens of Jlfacrun, 2 chima'ras, 2 starfishes, .3 shells, 1 



sea-urchin, 1 brisinga, 2 ascidians, 1 Poitachcle.^, 2 alcyonarians, 1 gorgouian. 

 Dredging station 3468: 2 small fishes, 5 sea-urchins, a few crabs, little coral, 3 ophi- 



uraus, nnuli bryozoa. 

 Dredging station 34(39: 1 starfish, 2 shells, much coral, little bryozoa, little alg:e. 

 Dredging station 3470: many small fishes, 1 large fish, few starfish, 1 octopus, nuiny 



prawns, 1 squid. 

 Dredging station 3471 : many small fishes, 12 prawns, 1 holothurian, 1 pennatula. 

 Dredging station 3472: 6 Macruri, many specimens oi Myclophum, 2 flounders, 6 



eels, 12 starfish, few shells, few crabs, 6 prawns, 1 holothurian, few sponges. 

 Dredging station 3473 : 4 Macruri, 2 Slernoptyx, 1 starfish, 3 shells, 1 crab, 4 praAvns 



1 naked mollusk, 1 pennatula. 

 Dredging station 3474: 35 Macruri, 2 specimens ol' Myctophum, 2 of Sternojityx, 2 



eels, many starfish, few shells, 5 sea-urchins, 4 crabs, few ophiuraus, fcwiirawns, 



few sponges, few naked mollusks, 1 pennatula. 



