INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 2715 
dredging and fishing to the southward and westward of the reef. One 
haul with the beam trawl showed the bottom to be very rich in places. 
Only 1 cultus-cod, 1 rockfish, and 1 sculpin were taken with the hand 
lines. 
This was the last fishing work carried on during the cruise, but after 
a trip to the Columbia River, soundings were begun off Cape Sebastian 
and were extended as far as Cape Mendocino, California, The char- 
acter of the bottom along this part of the coast is not such as would 
lead one to expect the presence of fishes in large numbers, but some 
localities nay be found where good fishing can be obtained. 
The capture of halibut off Cape Mendocino has been reported on 
several occasions. The captain of the steam fishing schooner George 
LI, Chance, of Portland, Oregon, states that in the latter part of July, 
1889, he secured a number of halibut close to the cape, in a depth of 40 
fathoms. As the feeding-ground in this locality covers only a very 
small area, it is not probable that many halibut need be looked for 
there. Heceta Bank is probably the only ground south of Cape Flattery 
where halibut may be expected to remain for any length of time. On 
the evening of August 7 the George L. Chance anchored on the southern 
part of that bank and put over hand lines. Several small halibut were 
caught in the course of a short time, and, thinking they must be 
abundant, a trawl line was set. The next morning, on hauling it, the 
heads of 11 halibut were found attached to the hooks, but sharks and 
dogfish had devoured the bodies. Further efforts also proved fruitless, 
and the vessel proceeded to Flattery Bank, where a fare was obtained. 
POINT ARENA TO SANTA BARBARA, CAL. (MARCH AND APRIL, 1890). 
The Italian and Greek fishermen of San Francisco fish the year 
round in various localities, both to the north and south of the Golden 
Gate. The most northern limit to their grounds is Point Arena, the 
most southern, Point Ano Nuevo. Hand-line fishing is principally car- 
ried on between Point Reyes and Point Arena, in depths of 10 to 30 fath- 
oms. Extralarge red rockfish and cultus-cod are secured off Point Reyes, 
and as good fares may be obtained within 2 or 3 miles of the shore, 
attention is seldom paid to the adjacent deeper waters. Red rockfish 
are chiefly taken in this locality, but other species are also caught in 
smaller quantities. The red rockfish is also abundant in the vicinity 
of Bodega Head and Tomales Point. Fishing is carried on in Tomales 
Bay during the entire year, drag seines and. three-mesh trammel nets 
being used for the capture of red rockfish, perch, flounders, smelt, sea 
bass, herring, and anchovies. From 30 to 40 fishermen confine their 
operations exclusively to this bay, making no attempts to try on any 
of the offshore grounds. The catch is marketed in San Francisco, 
being transported there by rail. 
In Bodega Bay fishing is also prosecuted throughout the year, by | 
means of hand lines and drag seines. The principal species obtained 
here are tomcod, red rockfish, and flounders. 
