XXXVIII FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Professor Davidson, of the TJ. S. Coast Survey, has described its prin- 

 cipal characteristics in the following brief manner : 



The soundings of this sea and of the Arctic Ocean north of Bering Strait indi- 

 cate it as the most remarkable submarine plateau of such great extent yet known. 

 On the eastern half of this sea soundings of less than 50 fathoms are found over an 

 extent of 18,000 square miles. 



Bering Sea has been surveyed only in the eastern and northern por- 

 tions and adjacent to the Aleutian chain of islands. The depths in- 

 crease very gradually from the shores of the Alaskan main-land, on 

 the eastern side, and from the vicinity of Bering Strait in the north 

 tosvard the central and southern portions of the sea, the greatest known 

 depths, excepting along the Aleutian Islands, 100 fathoms, occurring to 

 the southeast of St. Matthews Island and to the east of the Priby- 

 lov group. The soundings of the TJ. S. S. Tuscarora in 1874 indicate 

 a deep trough of 600 to 1,G81 fathoms, bordering the northern side of 

 the Aleutian Islands from Ooualaska to Tanaga. 



Cod and halibut have been taken as far up as St. Lawrence Island 

 and Korton Sound, but are said to be scarce in the northern part of 

 the sea. These fish are also a favorite food of seals and sea lions, and 

 are therefore not to be found in abundance around the rookeries of 

 those animals. Vessels from San Francisco occasionally visit the south- 

 ern and eastern parts of the sea, and have reported good fares, but the 

 grounds about Oonalaska, the Shumagins, and Kadiak are given the 

 preference, as being located nearer the markets and having good har- 

 bors close at hand. 



The Albatross entered Bering Sea through Onimak Pass, but did not 

 extend her investigations beyond the immediate vicinity of the islands 

 adjacent to the pass, the work upon the southern grounds being con- 

 sidered the most important which she can undertake on the first cruise. 

 The following information respecting the Bering Sea grounds was, how- 

 ever, obtained at the Shumagin Islands: While at Humboldt Harbor, 

 Popofif Island, the 1st of August, the schooner Arago, owned by Lynde 

 & Hough, of San Francisco, arrived in port from a trip to Bering Sea, 

 with a fare of 103,000 cod. She had been absent from San Francisco 

 since April 12 ; began fishing May 18, and left the grounds July 12. 



They found the best fishing in latitude 56° 40' N., from 10 to 15 miles 

 oft- shore, in depths of 19 to 24 fathoms, the bottom being sandy. This 

 spot is some distance south of the entrance to Bristol Bay. The Arago 

 is of 170 tons burden and carries twenty-one men and twelve dories. 

 Trawls have been tried, but were unsuccessful, as the fish caught on the 

 hooks were quickly destroyed by the numerous small crustaceans liv- 

 ing upon the bottom. All fishing is now done with hand-lines from 

 dories. A few herring were taken along for the first baiting of the 

 hooks to secure a supply of halibut, after which the latter species was 

 exclusively used as bait. Mr. Torbin, the first mate of the Arago, stated 

 that he had been engaged in fishing on the banks both to the north and 

 south of the Alaska Peninsula and considers the Bering Sea fish supe- 

 rior to the southern. Fog and rains are also less prevalent in Bering 

 Sea than to the south of the peninsula. 



A bank lying about 20 miles to the northward of Onimak Pa«s, called 

 Slime Bank by the fishermen, has afforded some of the largest cod taken 

 in Alaska and is occasionally resorted to by the fishermen. Only one 

 vessel besides tiie Arago, the Dashing Wave, was engaged in fishing in 

 Bering Sea during 1888. Only a single trip is usually made by a vessel 

 in the course of one season. This year the Bashing Wave intended mak- 

 ing a necond trip, b it the attempt was subsequently abandoned. 



