COASTS OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON. 9 
Between August 9 and 19 a search was made for possible offshore 
banks. The first line of soundings began at the edge of the conti- 
nental shelf west of Destruction Island and extended westward a 
distance of approximately 300 miles. Three other lines of sound- 
ings were run north of the first one, parallel with it and about 20 
miles apart. Soundings were made to a depth of 500 fathoms at 
5-mile intervals, and every fifth sounding was extended to the bot- 
tom. No bank was found which could be fished upon, but a sub- 
marine elevation was located whose summit lies at a depth of only 
525 fathoms. ,This has been named “Gibson Bank,’ in honor of 
Mr. John Gibson, manager, Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association of 
Seattle. 
Between September 2 and 11 sounding operations were resumed 
along the 100-fathom line west of Grays Harbor, which work was 
extended southward as far as Cascade Head, the same methods being 
used as in the work in July. Very few patches of favorable bottom 
were found. 
As the halibut fishermen have repeatedly expressed their willing- 
ness to make fishing trials, provided they knew the location, depth, 
character of the bottom, etc., of a bank, the work of this cruise was 
confined to determining the location of new or unknown banks rather 
than to the determination of the fishing value of any bank. 
CHARACTER AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE BOTTOM. 
_ The region covered by this investigation is confined, for the most 
part, to a narrow strip lying along the edge of the continental shelf 
in the vicinity of the 100-fathom curve. This course was decided 
upon in view of the limited time at the disposal of the survey, and 
the probability that a coarse or rocky bottom would be found where- 
ever a ridge or a rapid change in depth exists. 
The data collected have been entered upon five Coast and Geodetic 
Survey charts which include the coast line from Cape Flattery to 
Coos Bay. The charts, as reproduced, are sections of the origi- 
nals: Chart 1 is a section of Coast and Geodetic Survey chart No. 
U, including Cape Flattery. Chart 2, Cape Flattery to Grays Harbor, 
is a section of Coast and Geodetic Survey chart No. 6400; Chart 3, 
Willapa Bay to Cascade Head, is compiled from sections of Coast and 
Geodetic Survey charts No. 6000 and 6100; Chart 4, Cape Foul- 
weather to Coos Bay, comprises section of Coast and Geodetic Survey 
charts No. 5900 and 6000. 
The 100, 50, and 20 fathom contour lines have been corrected or 
extended to conform with the soundings made at this time. All 
depths over 30 fathoms are indicated, the center of the figure being 
the spot where the sounding was made. The character of the bot- 
tom is noted near the sounding at which it was obtained. Favorable 
