INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. aao 
Six lines of soundings were made across Monterey Bay, three inside 
and three outside of a line drawn from Point Pinos to Santa Cruz, 
developing the great submarine valley which begins at the mouth of the 
Salinas River. It was supposed to lie in a west-southwesterly direc- 
tion, as indicated by inshore soundings; but our observations, while 
not sufficiently extended to define it positively, show it to trend 8. by 
W. off Cypress Point, with a depth of 950 fathoms 8 miles from land. 
Less water was found to the northward and westward farther off shore, 
where there is an elevation of about 200 fathoms. Further examina- 
tion of this ridge or plateau is desirable. 
From 245 fathoms less than 1.5 miles from Cypress Point, the line of 
equal depth gradually leaves the coast until west from Point Sur it is 
between 9 and 10 miles from shore. Drawing in abruptly, 293 fathoms 
was found 5 miles southwest from the point, with 36 fathoms little more 
than a mile inside of it. Thence to Lopez Rock the shore is exceedingly 
bold, the 200-fathom line approaching within 2 miles or less, then 
diverging slightly unti: off Piedras Blancas it is between 6 and 7 miles 
from the point. This stretch of coast from Carmel Point to Piedras 
Blancas is entirely open and exposed to the full power of the ocean 
swell, which causes a tremendous surf, even with the ordinary coast 
winds. Slight protection may be found under Point Sur, but even that 
can not be depended upon in bad weather. Southward from Piedras 
Blancas the character of the coast line changes materially, and there 
are various points where fairly good anchorage may be found. San 
Simeon Bay affords the best protection north of San Luis Obispo. 
As the shore line becomes less abrupt, shoal water extends farther 
seaward, 200 fathoms being found 7 miles off San Simeon Point, about 
10 miles off Point Esteros and Point Buchon, and between 13 and 14 
miles off Point San Luis; then, sweeping a little seaward off Points 
Sal and Purisima, it approaches within about 8 miles of the bold head- 
land of Point Arguello and 10 miles from Point Conception. 
The character of the bottom is so uniform along the coast that it may, 
for our purpose, be treated in a general way. The area between the 
Golden Gate, Point Pillar, the Farallones, and Point Reyes is sandy 
and free from rocks and stony patches, except in the immediate vicinity 
of the islands or shore line. Southward from Pillar Point, rocky patches 
near the shore will be frequently found, with fine gray sand farther off, 
which finally merges into green mud at varying distances from the land. 
There are stony patches also, usually between 30 and 70 fathoms, on 
sand or mud bottom, apparently the result of drift. The green mud 
has a strong odor, which is eccasionally offensive. 
