278 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
ning off Drake Bay. In the first haul 100 flounders, of several species, 
half a dozen anchovies, a few herring, red rockfish, and tomcod were 
collected. Off Ballenas Bay, 4 miles SW. by W. from Duxbury Point, 
50 anchovies, 1 smelt, 3 tomcod, 20 flounders, half a dozen perch, and 
a large mass of other material, composed the catch. One mile WNW. 
from the northern end of Four Fathom Bank, in 11 fathoms of water, 
flounders, soles, anchovies, and shrimps were taken. 
The sole obtained in this region are small compared with those found 
in deep water off Monterey Bay and to the westward of the Farallon 
Islands. This species is pronounced by epicures to excel in edible 
qualities nearly all the other deep-sea fishes of the Pacific coast. It 
seldom reaches the San Francisco market, however, as the fishermen do 
not push into sufficient depth of water to procure them. The steamer 
U.S. Grant, of San Francisco, has been engaged for some time in deep- 
water drag-net seining, but its operations have been restricted to water 
of too slight a depth to procure more than scattering specimens. 
Trials with hand lines and beam-trawl were made off Cypress Point, 
but without much suecess. During the summer fish are said to be 
abundant in this locality, but in winter the fishermen spend no time 
upon this ground. In deep water off Monterey Bay very large deep- 
sea sole * were taken in considerable numbers, and in nearly all hauls 
made farther to the southward, in depths over 90 or 100 fathoms, the 
sole and black-cod were obtained in greater or less abundance. The 
edible qualities of the latter species are inferior, however, to what they 
are in the neighborhood of Cape Flattery. 
A cod trawl was set off the northern entrance to San Simeon Bay, 
on a sharp, rocky patch of ground, but no edible fishes were caught, 
although, starfishes were numerous. San Simeon Bay has been for 
many years one of the principal whaling stations on the Pacific coast, 
and very little attention has been paid to other kinds of fishing. Dur- 
ing the past winter ten boxes of smelts, holding 160 pounds per box, 
were secured by one man, using gill nets. This is the largest amount 
of fish ever taken during a single season. 
Seven whales were taken during each of the seasons 1888 and 1889. 
Those obtained in 1888 yielded 180 barrels of oil, while 260 barrels 
were taken from the catch of 1889. This difference was due to the 
larger size of the whales in the latter year. Whales frequent this 
region during the months of December, January, and February, but in 
some years a few are seen as late as the middle of March. It is during 
these months that the “down run” takes place. The “ uprun” is of 
shorter duration, lasting, as a rule, from four to six weeks. While 
*The deep-sea sole taken here were by far the largest found by the Albatross in 
the North Pacific. The largest specimens weighed 8 pounds, while specimens of 4 
to 6 pounds were common. It was found that they improved by being kept on ice, 
and a considerable number were carried to San Francisco for distribution. They 
were highly appreciated by those who received them. 
