REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XLIX 
proposed to engage in the study of special subjects, and, by careful 
observations upon the more important fishes, to collect data which can 
be utilized in the development of individual fisheries. Owing to the 
diversity of climate resulting from the great extent of coast line, the 
field work can be kept up during nearly the entire year and, therefore, 
with little loss of time. 
A month and a half were spent at San Francisco in preparation for 
the first cruise, and on July 4, 1888, the Albatross started north, under 
instructions to explore the region south of the Alaska Peninsula 
between Unalaska and Middleton Islands. Completing this survey the 
last of August, she arrived at Seattle September 6, and continued 
operations on the coasts of Washington and Oregon, returning to San 
Francisco October 21. The winter cruise began January 3, 1889, the 
field of work lying between Point Conception and the Mexican boundary 
line, a trip also being made to the upper part of the Gulf of California 
for the purpose of determining the relations of that body of water to 
the Colorado River. The Albatross was back in San Francisco on April 
25, but left again on May 21 to renew the investigations on the coasts 
of Washington and Oregon, which were still in progress at the close 
of the fiscal year. Xo fishery explorations were ever started under 
more auspicious circumstances, and none have been productive of more 
thoroughly practical results. For the successful execution of these 
plans credit is chiefly due to Lieut. Commander Tanner, who, with a full 
appreciation of the objects of the survey, has pressed the work with 
all his customary zeal and energy. Mr. Charles H. Townsend, an expe- 
rienced collector, acted as permanent naturalist, and fishery matters 
were in charge of Mr. A. B. Alexander, formerly of the schooner Gram- 
pis. During the winter Prof. Charles H. Gilbert, of the University of 
Indiana, also joined the steamer as chief naturalist and ichthyologist. 
A narrative account of the year’s operations is published in Appendix 
4 to this volume (pp. 395-512), while the summer’s cruise has been 
described in the Fish Commission Bulletin for 1888, pp. 1-95. The prin- 
cipal results may be summarized as follows : 
ALASKA. 
While approaching the Alaskan coast, soundings were begun in a 
depth of 2,550 fathoms, latitude 52° 15' K, longitude 156° 37' W., and 
were continued thence to Kiliuluk Bay on the south side of Unalaska 
Is 1 and. From this point the investigations were carried northeastward 
parallel with the coast line as far as Middleton Island, the most time 
oeing spent in those localities where banks had been reported by the 
fishermen, or where their existence was conjectured from other evidence. 
The results in a general way indicate that the entire submerged 
plateau in tins region is one immense fishing-ground of irregular out- 
line, not usually separated from the adjacent shores by deep water, but 
limited on the outer side by the abrupt slope beginning in about 100 
II. Mis. 274 iy 
