PACIFIC COD FISHERIES. 19 
to Mitrofania Bay. These showed on the single-line depths of 26 
to 137 fathoms, while the double line showed depths of 44 to 73 
fathoms. 
Albatross Bank.—This bank lies off the southeastern side of Kodiak 
Island and extends the entire length of that island as well as in front 
of the Trinity Islands. At the eastern end it is practically continu- 
ous with Portlock Bank. Along some portions of the coast, as in 
the neighborhood of Sitkalidak Island, the bank is separated from 
the land by comparatively deep water, while in other places shoal 
water intervenes. The 100-fathom curve is distant 25 to 45 miles from 
the land, inside of which limit there is an estimated area of 3,700 
square miles. Depths from 40 to 60 fathoms are most common on 
the bank. Beyond the 100-fathom line the slope is very abrupt. All 
varieties of bottoms occur, sand being most prevalent, and rocky 
patches common. 
Prof. George Davidson, one of the earliest investigators of the 
fishing banks off this portion of the Alaska coast, predicted the exist- 
ence of this bank upon the evidence of a few isolated soundings. The 
bank was later named after the Albatross, which surveyed it. 
In the early years of this industry this bank was frequented by 
small vessels with headquarters at Kodiak, but as most of the fish 
taken are smaller than on the other offshore banks, it has not been 
much resorted to in recent years. 
Portlock Bank.—Portlock Bank extends northeastward from Ko- 
diak Island to about longitude 148° 30’ west, a distance of 110 to 
120 miles, and is widest at the western end. Its outline, as indicated 
by the 100-fathom curve, is irregular. It is the largest single bank 
south of the Alaska Peninsula, its area inside of the 100-fathom curve 
being about 6,800 square miles. The boundaries of this bank have 
not been conclusively established as yet, and it may eventually turn 
out to be much larger than supposed. No soundings were made by 
‘the Albatross nearer than 16 miles south of the Kenai Peninsula. 
Between longitudes 150° and 151° west the bank abruptly narrows, 
and thence maintains a width of 35 to 45 miles to its eastern end. 
There is a broad indentation, with depths of 102 to 166 fathoms, on 
the southern side; depths of 105 to 122 fathoms occur just off the 
northern border, and 106 to 761 fathoms off the eastern end, close 
to the 100-fathom curve. 
The soundings made by the Albatross between longitude 150° west 
and the eastern end of the bank, inside of the 100-fathom line, show 
depths of 66 to 99 fathoms. Near the central part of the bank, 
between longitudes 150° and 151° west,.two soundings of 37 fathoms 
occur, while on the southern part depths of 40 to 72 fathoms were 
found. Between longitudes 151° and 152° west, the latter marking 
approximately the western boundary of the bank and the coast line, 
