934 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES 
signed to the island onthe charts, and, knowing that observations had 
not been made on it, in modern times at least, we considered the chance 
worth waiting for, and fortunately obtained good sights for latitude 
and longitude. The island is the one distinctive and unmistakable 
landmark in the vicinity; hence our anxiety to locate it exactly. The 
Southeast Point was found to be in latitude 55° 25’ 05.6” N. and 
longitude 163° 07/ 33.6’ W. There is foul ground off the northwest 
extremity of the island, some rocks awash; and between 2 and 3 miles 
distant is Sea Lion Rock, several hundred yards in extent and about 
150 feet in height, on which is a large rookery of sea lions. We found 
the schooner Olga at anchor off Amak Island, waiting favorable 
weather to secure a sufficient number of these animals to supply her 
native sea-otter hunters with skins for bidarkas. 
No codfish were taken within 10 miles of Amak Island, or between it 
and the mainland, except scattering specimens. Sea lions and walrus 
doubtless destroy and drive away fish from their immediate vicinity, 
but over this large area there must be some other cause, and it may, 
I think, be attributed to the lack of food, as we found the bottom 
exceedingly barren. 
Baird Bank.—Getting under way at 1:53 p. m., we continued our ex- 
plorations in a northerly direction, and soon found ourselves approach- 
ing excellent codfish grounds. The bottom fauna was abundant, and 
the fish captured were large and in good condition. Near the shore, m 
depths less than 20 fathoms, the bottom was covered with mussels, 
sponges, and large barnacles in clusters, adhering firmly to rocks and 
stones, their elevated cutting edges soon wrecking the nets. Conditions 
improved with each line of stations, and, arriving off Port Méller, we 
found ourselves on the best fishing-ground we had yet found in Bering 
Sea. It was evident that we were developing a great cod bank, the 
extent of which was not yet defined. 
Lhe schooner Vanderbilt, of San Francisco, was found at anchor off 
Port Moller with nearly a full fare of codfish, which she had taken in 
that vicinity. 
Port Miller—ULeaving the schooner at 2 p. m., June 29, we anchored 
outside of Entrance Point, Port Moller, at 5:45 p.m. Wewere, as 
before stated, unable to procure a full coal supply at Unalaska, and, 
rather than wait the arrival of a cargo which could not be expected for 
a month at least, decided to extend our explorations to this place and 
take our chances of replenishing the bunkers from a recently opened 
coal mine in Herendeen Bay, a branch of Port Méller. Thedelay could 
be no greater, at least, and we might be able to procure sufficient fuel 
for the completion of the work in Bristol] Bay. The region is unsur- 
veyed, and the entrance guarded by banks and shoals over which the 
tide sweeps with great force, making the channel difficult and danger- 
ous, its ill repute having, in fact, caused the great bay and its tribu- 
taries to remain almost a terra incognita to the navigator. The dis- 
