1925] Townsend and Nichols, Fishes from Lower California 3 



bottom temperature was 39 degrees, while at the surface it was 73 degrees. 

 Bottom temperatures of 36 degrees were obtained by the Albatross in 

 the lower part of the Gulf at depths of 1200 to 1500 fathoms. 



About ten miles off Cape San Lucas the 1000-fathom line turns 

 away from the coast until in Lat. 23° 20' N. it is sixty miles off-shore. 

 At Magdalena Bay it lies about half that distance away. A hundred 

 miles farther north it is 65 miles off, again approaching the coast within 

 25 miles off San Hipolito Bay. From this point northward to the San 

 Benito Islands there are depths of 1000 fathoms within sight of land. 



North of the San Benitas the line lies farther off, trending nearer 

 the coast at San Quentin. In the latitude of the United States and 

 Mexican boundary the 1000-fathom line is more than 100 miles from the 

 coast, passing from 20 to 40 miles outside of the islands of southern 

 California. From Point Conception northward to near Monterey it 

 lies at distances varying from 30 to 50 miles. 



Four hauls were made in depths exceeding 1000 fathoms, the deep- 

 est being about 100 miles northwestward of Cape San Lucas in 1760 

 fathoms (two miles exactly) , where the only fish taken was Bathysaurus 

 mollis. The last dredge haul of the season was made about 35 miles 

 south of Monterey in 659 fathoms. 



The 2000-fathom line of depth, still imperfectly known, is not far 

 beyond the 1000-fathom line, its distance from it apparently averaging 

 less than the distance of the latter from the coast. 



While the 1000-fathom curve extends into the Gulf of California as 

 far as 180 miles north of Cape San Lucas, deep-water dredging was not 

 attempted there, the results obtained during two former voyages having 

 yielded little of interest. 



During the voyage plaster casts of thirty-one deep-sea fishes in 

 perfect condition were made by Mr. J. C. Bell, modeler of the Museum 

 staff. Some of these yielded more exact measurements than the alcoholic 

 specimens from which they were made when fresh. Photographs of 

 the most interesting are reproduced herewith. The casts are of decided 

 value as museum exhibits of deep-sea types, otherwise difficult to dis- 

 play in attractive form. — C. H. T. 



