102 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
tection from southeast to southwest winds. Winter fishing would, 
therefore, be attended with much danger from the heavy storms which 
prevail during that season, and operations are chiefly limited to the 
summer months. According to Capt. Tanner, a well-found schooner 
could anchor anywhere on the bank between May and September, with 
an even chance of being able to ride out any gale she might encounter. 
Baird Bank, so named by Capt. Tanner in honor of the late Prof. 
Spencer F. Baird, is the largest and most important fishing-ground yet 
discovered in Bering Sea. Having a total area of about 9,200 square 
niles, it exceeds in size Portlock Bank, the largest bank south of the 
Alaska Peninsula, by 2,400 miles, and Georges Bank, the second largest 
fishing-ground in the North Atlantic, by 800 miles. Commencing a few 
miles east of Amak Island, it extends eastward, just off the northern 
coast of the Alaska Peninsula, to the vicinity of Cape Chigagof, at 
the mouth of the Ugaguk River, a distance of about 250 miles, and 
has an average width of about 40 miles. The depth of water ranges 
from 15 to 50 fathoms, and the bottom corresponds both in character 
and in the richness of its fauna with that of Slime Bank. The adja- 
cent mainland affords a weather shore during southeast winds, and 
Amak Island offers fairly good protection on its southeast and seuth- 
west sides. Port MOller and Herendeen Bay, which were partly charted 
by the Albatross, will be ports of call when they are better known, and 
Port Haiden may also become available for shelter after it has been 
surveyed. 
The examination was begun at the western end of the bank, and was 
carried thence northeastward, the conditions improving with each line 
of stations until off Port Méller, where the best fishing was obtained. 
Cod were taken at nearly every trial, but their abundance and quality 
varied with the locality, the largest and finest specimens having been 
secured from 15 to 20 miles from shore, in depths of 25 to 40 fathoms. 
Beyond the Port Méller region they continued abundant and of good 
size to near the northern end of the bank. The extreme head of Bristol 
Bay has no value as a cod-fishing ground, and only a few specimens in 
poor condition were captured here and there. The water is not only 
too fresh for this species, but owing to the strong currents produced by 
the immense discharge from several rivers and by the tides an unusual 
amount of sand and mud is constantly held in suspension. : 
Kulukak Ground.—Kulukak Bay occupies a large part of the region 
included between Cape Constantine and Cape Newenham, and contains 
Hagemeister Island and the Walrus group. Within this area codfish 
are found in various isolated spots, scarcely entitled to the name of 
banks, but for convenience sake the name of Kulukak Ground has been 
used to designate them. Extensive shoals occur off Hagemeister and 
the Walrus Islands, a depth of 6 fathoms being found about 18 miles 
to the southward of the latter. The principal fishing-spots are outside 
