626 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 



"Keferring to our conversation of this date, relative to the possible 

 future movements of the Albatross, I beg to submit to your considera- 

 tion the following: 



"On the general charts of the North Atlantic a small bank is laid 

 down to tbe eastward of the Grand Bank, perhaps about 200 miles dis- 

 tant from the latter, and about on the 45th parallel of north latitude. 

 This bank, on which are marked depths approximating 75 to lOOfathoms, 

 has long been an object of much interest to the Gloucester fishermen, 

 and much speculation has been indulged in as to whether the bank 

 really exists or not. If so, it is universally believed that cod and hali- 

 but may be found there in great abundance, and its authentication 

 would, no doubt, prove a bonanza to the fishermen. 



" If it does not exist, the settlement of the question would prove not 

 only interesting, but extremely valuable to the fishermen, since they 

 may be prevented from spending their time in fruitless search for the 

 bank. 



"The Albatross is so eminently well adapted to making this research 

 that I trust I may be pardoned for hoping she will look for the place in 

 question if her other work takes her in the vicinity of the Grand Bank 

 during the summer. 



" The value of such work may be fairly illustrated by the fact that, a 

 short time ago, while the Grampus lay in Gloucester Harbor, one of the 

 captains came on board who was about to sail on a halibut trip. Inci- 

 dentally he told me it was his intention to try to find Hope Bank when 

 he got to sea. I told him that it had no existence except in the imagi- 

 nation of the person who reported it, and that the Albatross had found 

 2,000 fathoms where the bank is laid down. 



" This information not only surprised him, but pleased him very much, 

 for he said it would practically save him (and another vessel which was 

 going to make the attempt in company) a broken trip, since he had 

 determined to spend a week or ten days in the search." 



The depth found 100 miles east of the Grand Bank was 1,916 fathoms, 

 increasing to 2,658 fathoms 200 miles farther east. The soundings show 

 no rise in the sea-bottom along this line, which extends far enough to the 

 eastward to intersect a marine ridge extending from the Azores to 

 Flemish Cap. On the contrary the depths increased with great regu- 

 larity until the maximum, 2,658 fathoms, was reached at the extremity 

 of the line in latitude 45° 14' N., longitude 42° 03' W. From this point 

 a line was run to Flemish Cap, as indicated by the hydrographer, with 

 still no signs of marine elevations until reaching the abrupt rise of the 

 Cap. 



A few words as to the accuracy of our various positions may not be 

 out of place here. We had generally clear weather to 6 p. m. on the 

 8th, enabling us to locate the soundings as accurately as ordinary sea 

 observations permit. On the 9th, latitude by ex-meridian altitudes of 

 the sun was obtained, but no longitude. Foggy weather and moderate 



