32 



outer edge, and averaging 4„1%, The axis of the terminal 

 end, like Santa Monica Canyon, swings to the south and appears 

 to terminate in a fan or delta (Fig. 9). The south wall of 

 the canyon generally is much steeper than the north side and 

 has local gradients of 25%, Two large tributaries are located 

 on the north flank of Redondo Canyon, whereas only small ones 

 are found on the south side. Shepard and Emery (1941, p. 64) 

 compared soundings within the large tributary closest to shore 

 on the north side of the canyon. They found evidence that 

 recent soundings are consistently deeper than the soundings 

 taken about 50 years before which suggests slumping. Figure 

 9 shows cross-sections of Redondo Canyon taken at regular 

 intervals from near its head beyond its terminal end. 



Sajita Monica Canyon starts at a depth of approxmately 

 180 feet about 3^ miles offshore. Unlike Redondo Canyon, 

 it has a sinuous course, starting in a northeast-southwest 

 direction, turning slightly northwest, and then south at 

 the outer end. Santa Monica Canyon also differs from Redondo 

 in that it appears to be less rugged and complex, is more 

 asymmetrical, and has only small and few tributaries. The 

 average gradient along the axis of the canyon is 3%. Figure 

 6 shows fathograms taken across the upper part of the canyon. 

 It will be noted that the canyon has a '*V** shaped cross-section 

 at the bottom but the north side flattens out forming the wide 

 north side of the canyon and part of the basin slope. A few 

 terraces along the side of the canyon are also conspicuous. 



