2992 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Phe naturalists were anxious to make further examinations of the 
shores of Monterey Bay, and to give them an opportunity to do so we 
ran in and anchored off the town at 4:20 p. m., remaining until 8:40 on 
the 11th, the time being utilized in shore collecting, seining, etc. Leay- 
ing the harbor at the time mentioned, we sounded an hour later in 881 
fathoms, rocky bottom, Point Pinos bearing ESKH. ¢ K., distant 8} 
miles, with decreasing depths and soft mud bottom in every direction. 
Submarine currents must sweep across this station with sufficient force 
to expose the bedrock. Two hauls of the trawl were made in the sub- 
marine valley off Monterey Bay, and we then steamed into Santa Cruz, 
anchoring at 7:30 p.m. Getting under way at 4:45 next morning, 
April 12, we steamed out to the 200-fathom line and made a series of 
dredgings, working to. the northward. The coast wind was blowing 
very fresh, with a heavy sea, which seriously interfered with our work. 
The results, however, were quite satisfactory. The last haul was_fin- 
ished at 5:37 p.m., when we started for port, arriving at the navy-yard, 
Mare Island, at 5:50 a. m., April 13. The return of the vessel tq the 
yard completed the work on the California coast for the season, and 
preparations were at once begun for the northern cruise. 
Results of operations on the coast of California.—Active operations off 
the California coast continued from March 10 to April 13, and while 
the totalresults can not be given until the scientific branches are worked 
up, we can state ina general way what has been accomplished. In 
hydrography, 236 soundings were taken, between Point Arena and the 
Santa Barbara Channel. Many of them were for the sole purpose of 
ascertaining ocean depths outside of soundings given onthe Coast Sur- 
vey charts, while others were preliminary to trawl or dredge hauls. It 
has been our purpose to establish the 200-fathom line as the maximum 
depth in which deep-sea fishing can be profitably prosecuted, and within 
which are located the fishing-grounds of the Pacific coast. 
Commencing at Point Arena, the 200-fathom curve lies almost 12 
miles from shore, and extends in nearly a straight line to 14 miles off 
Salt Point, 20 miles off Russian River, and 26 miles off Tomales Point. 
The bottom is composed of alternating patches of black sand and green 
mud, the latter extending almost invariably between 100 and 200 
fathoms. The otherwise smooth bottom is obstructed by occasional 
stony patches, usually between depths of 40 to 70 fathoms, seldom 
indicated by the lead but encountered by the beam trawl. From Point 
Reyes to the 200-fathom curve outside of Cordell Bank, it is 21 miles. 
This same depth is found 3 miles outside of Noonday Rock, 4 miles 
from North Farallon and 5 miles from South Farallon, increasing ab- 
ruptly from the 100-fathom line. The curve gradually approaches the 
coast to the southward of the Farallones, and from 25 miles off Pillar 
Point it narrows to 16 at Pigeon Point. The line sweeps inward 
abruptly at Ano Nuevo, and at El] Jarrow Point it is but 8 miles from 
shore, maintaining this distance until off Santa Cruz. 
