INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 273 
as favorable as off Yaquina Head, but a strong tide was running at the 
time and may have had more or less effect on the distribution of the fish, ° 
as is known to be the case in other places. On many spots over which 
we were drifted the hand lines brought up flounders, and the beam trawl, 
put over just before dark, secured between 800 and 900 of these fishes. 
The region about Cape Meares, 165 miles south of Cape Falcon, was 
subsequently investigated, the beam trawl being first used at station 
No. 3091, latitude 45° 32’ N., longitude 124° 19/ 30’ W., depth 87 fath- 
oms. Half a dozen squid, 100 flounders, 5 red rockfish, and about 
a peck of prawns composed the bulk of the catch. In 46 fathoms, 
Cape Meares bearing E. 3 8., 4 miles distant, only one red rockfish was 
taken on the hand lines. A berth nearer shore gave better results, 
as 14 red rockfish were quickly secured there. During the continuance 
of this drift a series of trials was also made about Arch Rocks by means 
of adory. These rocks lie about 2 miles from Cape Meares and 5 miles 
from the entrance to Tillamook Bay. Our investigations, however, 
were not attended with success, although the search was made as 
thorough as the time permitted. Attention was first given to the 
northern side of the rock, but obtaining nothing there, we shifted to 
the south side, where we soon discovered the cause of the barren con- 
dition of the region. In all sheltered places where the warm rays of 
the sun could penetrate, hundreds of sea lions were hauled out upon 
the rocks. Sea birds also filled the air and covered the summits of the 
rocks. The latter likewise consume large quantities of surface fishes, 
such as herring and smelts, and although none of these species were 
observed, the presence of the birds indicated their occurrence. 
Off the entrance to Tillamook Bay, 22 red rockfish, 2 orange rockfish, 
1 black-cod, 4 cultus-cod, and 1 yellow-striped rockfish were captured. 
From about 3 miles north of Cape Lookout to some 3 or 4 niles below the 
cape a very thorough examination of the bottom was made close in 
shore. During fifteen trials none of the baits upon the hooks were 
disturbed, and it is probable that the sea lions occurring along this 
region have caused a scarcity of fish. While the inshore work was in 
progress, the ship ran 10 miles off the land and made trials with the 
beam trawl and hand lines. By means of the former a large quantity 
of flounders was secured, while with the latter 2 red rockfish, 1 salmon, 
and a flounder were taken. 
Between Cape Lookout and Siletz Bay thirteen trials were made with 
hand lines. Fish seemed to be plentiful in a few places, but in the 
majority only a limited number were obtained. The bottom in this region 
is sandy. The true cod (Gadus morrhua) has been reported from time 
to time from this section of the coast, but it is very improbable that it 
occurs there, and none were taken by the Albatross south of the Strait 
of Juan de Fuca. <A few vessels would have no trouble in obtaining 
good fares of red rockfish and black-cod between Tillamook Rock and 
Yaquina Head, but, as already mentioned, the latter species has not 
HL. Mis, 13-—18 | i 
