TAKEN IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. 373 



Deposition of Z. L. Tanner, lieutenant-commander, U. ^. Nain/. 



pelagic sealing. 



State of Washington. 



Fort Toivnsend, Jefferson County, ss: 



Z. L. Tanner being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a lieutenant- 

 commander in the U. S. Navy. I liave made five cruises 

 in Alaskan Avaters iu command of the Fish Commission Exp^'-ience. 

 steamer Albatross, now temporarily in the service of 

 the United States Eevenue Marine, as follows, viz: I left San Francisco 

 July 4, 1888, for the north, via Esquimalt and ])eparture Bay, where we 

 called for coal. Arriving off the west end of Uualaska Island on the 

 21st, commenced exploring the coast in the interest of the fisheries, 

 soundings being run from shore to the 100-fathom line. Arrived atlliu- 

 liuk, Unalaska Island, on the 23d, and sailed on the 28th. Explora- 

 tions extended to the Fox Islands Passes, the Sannaks, and to the 

 Shumagin Islands. Called at Sand Point (or Humboldt Harbor), Eagle 

 Harbor, and Yukon Harbor, in the latter group. Eesuming the work 

 of exploration, it was carried to Mitrofania Bay, where we called, and 

 thence to Kadiak Island, stopping at old Harbor and Port Holjron. 

 The extensive banks off" the south coast of Kadiak were examined and a 

 call made at St. Paul, the most important settlement in that region. 

 Leaving the latter place, the work of exploration included the Portlock 

 Bank, and thence to Middleton Island, where a landing was made. 

 Soundings were then carried in th.e direction of the reported position oi 

 the Pamplona Eocks, for which an unsuccessful search was made. 

 Thence we X)roceeded to Departure Bay, Puget Sound, the coasts ol 

 Washington and Oregen, and to San Francisco, arriving October 21. 



I left San Francisco on the 21st of May, 1889, and was engaged in 

 deep sea exploration on the coasts of Oregon and Washington until 

 July 7, then made a trip to southeastern Alaska through the Inland 

 Passages,visitiugFortTongass, New Metlahcatlah (Port Chester), Karta 

 Bay, Port Wraiigell, Sitka, Pavlof Harbor, Glacier Bay, Hoonyah, Chil- 

 kat, Chilkoot and Juiieau. Eeturned to Tacoma on July 28th, calling at 

 Victoria, Port Town send and Seattle en route. I sailed for the North on 

 on the 5th of May, 1890, via Departure Bay, British Columbia, and 

 commenced the examination of the region from the Sannaks to Unimak 

 Pass on the 21st, arriving in Unalaska on the 23d. The work of the 

 season included tlie exploration of the northern coasts of Unalaska, 

 Unimak, the Alaska Peninsula, and the northern shores of Bristol Bay 

 to the Kuskowim Eiver. The Slime Bank and Baird Bank were devel- 

 oped in Bristol Bay. A survey was made of the lower Nushagak Eiver, 

 the entrance to Port Moller, and Herendeen Bay. Deep-sea explora- 

 tion was extended to 58° 43' north and longitude 175° 30' west, pass- 

 ing near the IGO-fathom line, 70 miles to the" westward of the Pribilofs. 

 Left Bering Sea August 2Gth, arriving in San Francisco September 

 20th, via Departure Bay, Port Townsend, and the California coast, 

 where we were engaged in deep-sea exploration from the 21st to the 

 25th. I sailed again for Bering Sea July 10, 1891, g^.^^^ ^^^ Btriiif- 

 having on board the United States Commissioners to sea^'with°unit"'3 

 the Seal Islands. We arrived at Unalaska July 25th, states Commissioners 

 and were at tbe Pribilof Islands from the 28th to August 10th. Left the 

 sea on the 13th of August, and reached San Francisco September 15th, 

 via Departure Bay, Esquimalt and Puget Sound. On the 19th day of 



