ee 
REPORT UPON THE INQUIRY RESPECTING FOOD-FISHES AND 
THE FISHING-GROUNDS. 
By RicHarD RATHBUN. 
Assistant in charge. 
INTRODUCTION. 
During the two years covered by this report the field researches 
assigned to this division have extended over a large part of both the 
Atlantie and Pacific seacoasts, and have embraced a wide area of 
fresh-water drainage. Most noteworthy from the novelty and import- 
ance of their results have been the investigations by the steamer Alba- 
tross in Bering Sea and along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and 
California. 
A very thorough reconnaissance has been made of the eastern or 
shallow-water part of Bering Sea, including its fishing-grounds for cod, 
the shore lines as far north as the Kuskokwim River, and the general 
characteristics of the bottom to the western border of the continental 
platform, whose position also was determined. The principal fishing- 
bank in this region, which has been named after the late Prof. Baird, 
was discovered to have a very large area, exceeding even that of 
Georges Bank, off the New England coast. The distribution of the fish 
on this and on other grounds, as well as their abundance and average 
size in different places, has been ascertained for the summer season, 
and much further information of value to the fishermen has been 
placed on record. Whe importance of a more thorough knowledge of 
the physics and natural history of Bering Sea, in view of the grave 
questions connected withits seal and other, fisheries, suggests, how- 
ever, many additional problems, for the study of which the Albatross 
is well adapted, and which require early attention. 
The preliminary examination of the continental slope off the States 
of Washington, Oregon, and California, from the Straits of Fuca to the 
Mexican boundary line, was completed in the fall of 1890. The loca- 
tion of all the fishing-grounds contained within these limits has now 
been determined, and sufficient material has been collected to illustrate 
the different varieties of food-fishes, and their distribution throughout 
the region, as well as the principal features of the bottom fauna. Very 
H. Mis. 113 7 97 
