REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 101 
latter locality in a westerly and northerly direction and subsequently 
‘in a southerly direction, for the purpose of determining the western 
“boundary of the elevated platform characterizing the eastern part of 
Bering Sea. The remainder of the season was employed in the vicinity 
of Unalaska, mainly in ascertaining the positions and value of the cod 
banks lying off the northern side of that island, but on leaving Bering 
Sea a few stops were made upon the fishing- ero ta south of the Alaské 
Peninsula. 
Slime Bank.—This is the first of the large fishing-banks which is 
reached after entering Bering Sea through Unimak Pass. As defined 
by the surveys of the Albatross, it begins directly off the Northwest 
Cape of Unimak Island, is elongate in shape and follows approxi- 
mately the trend of the adjacent coast to within a few miles of Amak 
Island. It measures about 85 miles in length by about 17 miles in 
average width, and thus has a total area of about 1,445 square miles. 
The inner margin of the bank lies only a short aimance off the land 
and the depths range from 20 to 50 fathoms, although some cod were 
taken in deeper water. The bottom consists chiefly of sand, gravel, and 
pebbles, changing to mud on the offshore limits. 
The bank derives its name from the occurrence of immense numbers 
ot a large jelly-fish, brownish or rusty in color, and provided with long 
‘slender tentacles, having great stinging powers. These jelly-fishes, it 
is said, have never been observed at the surface, but seem to oceupy 
an intermediate zone toward the bottom, where they occasion much 
annoyance to the fishermen by becoming entangled about their fishing 
gear, and in this way are often brought on board the vessels. It is 
also reported that sometimes they even interfere with the hooks reach- 
ing bottom, and, by covering the bait and lines with a prickly slime, 
render the former unattractive to the fish and the latter very uncom- 
fortable to handle. In the early part of the season not much trouble 
is experienced from this cause, but by July 1 the jelly-fishes become so 
thick that it is almost useless to remain longer upon the bank, and 
other localities farther north are then resorted to. Except for this 
unusual phenomenon, however, the advantages for fishing on Slime Bank 
are excellent. The largest and most thrifty looking cod were taken 
by the Albatross some 6 or 8 miles from shore, but fish of fair size and 
good quality were plentiful over nearly the entire bank. Small speci- 
mens of halibut were also secured occasionally, and the beam trawl 
disclosed a rich bottom fauna. Attempts have been made.to use cod 
trawls upon this bank, but without success, owing to the obstacles 
which the jelly-fishes are ORBRSE: The depths of water, however, are 
everywhere so moderate that hand lines can be employed reeemen ty : 
and that is the only method of fishing now followed. 
2 There are, unfortunately, no available harbors for fishing vessels along 
the coast adjacent to Slime Bank, although Shaw Bay offers some pro- 
