INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 281 
amounting to 139 cod, weighing 1,612 pounds. Their stomachs con- 
tained crabs, holothurians, sand-lances, and the remains of other fishes. 
These trials occupied from twelve totwenty minutes each and were made 
in depths of 13 to 62 fathoms, the bottom being sandy. On the following 
day hand-line fishing was continued in connection with the sounding 
and dredging operations. The same number of fishing trials was made 
as on the previous day, but the aggregate weight of the cod, 59 in 
number, was only 596 pounds, making the average weight slightly less. 
In the immediate vicinity of Amak Island cod occur only in small 
numbers, their scarcity being probably due to the presence of sea lions. 
The quantity of fish consumed in this vicinity by these animals must 
be very large, especially in the winter, when their numbers are greatly 
augumented by visitors from the north. 
The walrus has always been abundant in this region, and while at 
anchor off Izenbek Bay, between Amak Island and the mainland, we 
observed some 30 or 40 individuals swimming about in the water about 
three-quarters of a mile from the ship; 8 or 10 more were hauled out 
upon the sand-spit at the entrance to the bay. The stretch of coast 
adjacent to Slime Bank has no available harbors, and should winter 
fishing ever be carried on there, which is improbable, the vessels would 
be exposed to very severe storms without the means of shelter. Dur- 
ing the summer heavy winds rarely occur, but moderate gales of short 
duration are cocasionally experienced; yet, as a rule, the vessels ride 
them out without difficulty. 
Trawl lines are not used in Bering Sea, the depth of water and char- 
acter of the bottom making it more convenient to fish with hand lines 
from dories. A few attempts have been made to employ the trawl lines 
on Slime Bank, but they soon become thickly covered with the so-called 
slime, making them difficult to handle, while the catch was also small. 
While these difficulties would not be encountered elsewhere, the water 
is generally so shallow and the fish, in suitable places, so abundant, 
that the hand lines can be operated more readily and economically. 
The fishermen have no trouble in obtaining bait. On leaving port 
a small quantity of salt salmon and salt herring is placed on board, to 
use for the first trials, but this is soon replaced by fresh bait taken on 
the hooks, such as sculpins, flounders, and other small fish. Halibut 
are also frequently obtained in sufficient quantities to serve for this 
purpose, for which they are regarded as nearly equal to squid. All of 
the halibut taken in Bristol Bay by the Albatross were of small size, 
and it is said that large individuals are rarely obtained. 
Baird Bank is much the largest fishing-ground in Bristol Bay. It 
extends from off Izenbek Bay to the Ugaguk River, a distance of 235 
miles, and has an extreme width of 59 miles,its total area amounting to 
about 9,200 square miles. The depths range from 13 to 53 fathoms, and 
the fauna living upon it is rich and varied. It is well supplied with 
cod. The name Port Méller Bank, which has been given to it by the 
fishermen, has been changed to Baird Bank by Capt. Tanner. 
