XVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



through two or three years. Although these were mainly limited to a 

 study of the history of the fisheries and of their condition at that 

 time, large collections of fishes, containing many new and interesting 

 species, were also obtained and described. An important result of 

 these researches was to furnish conclusive proof of the value and ex- 

 tent of the fishery resources of the Western coast, which were then de- 

 veloped and utilized only to a very limited extent in the vicinity of the 

 large settlements, and especially about San Francisco. A few fishing 

 vessels, however, were in the habit of visiting, each season, certain rich 

 cod and halibut banks off the central and southern Alaskan coasts, but 

 the extent and character of these banks was unknown. The advan- 

 tages which the Eastern fisheries have derived from the investigations 

 of the steamer Albatross seemed to warrant the extension of the sur- 

 vey to the Pacific coast, and upon the solicitation of many persons in- 

 terested in the matter the Commissioner decided to detail the Alba- 

 tross for that purpose as soon as Congress could make provision for 

 her voyage around and for the necessary alterations in her machinery. 

 Appropriations for this purpose were passed in August, 1S86, and before 

 the close of the calendar year new boilers for the steamer were under 

 construction. The plans for the Pacific work contemplated a thorough 

 survey of the entire coast from southern California to the upper limit 

 of the extensive cod and halibut banks in Alaska, upon the basis of 

 the East coast explorations ; but considering how little has been done 

 to make known the contour and character of the bottom in that region, 

 exc pt near the shore, it was expected that hydrographic work in lay- 

 ing out and defining the fishing banks' would demand a larger share of 

 attention than hitherto. The study of the fishery resources will, how- 

 ever, be kept up at the same time, with the view of completing results 

 as the explorations continue. 



3. — INQUIRY RESPECTING THE FISHERIES. 



Considerable progress was made during the year in the study of 

 several of the more important fisheries, with respect both to their 

 methods and their statistics. An event of more than usual interest was 

 the completion of the fishing schooner Grampus, which has been con- 

 structed upon an entirely new plan proposed by Capt. J. W. Collins. 

 While intended to serve as the model of a type of offshore fishing 

 smack, which it is thought will insure greater speed and safety to this 

 class of vessels, she has also been specially adapted to certain branches 

 of marine work for the prosecution of which no adequate means have 

 hitherto been provided. 



A.— Office and Field Work. 



The office and field work in charge of Mr. R. E. Earll had reference 

 mainly to the following subjects: 



(1) The mackerel fishery. — The extent of the southern spring fishery 

 and the condition of the fish, both fresh and salt, when placed upon the 



