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396 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
We encountered strong head winds and heavy seas along the coast, 
and on arriving in the Straits of Fuca found our coal supply so nearly 
exhausted that we considered it prudent to call at Esquimalt, where 
we were promptly supplied by Mr. James H. Innes, in charge of Her 
British Majesty’s dockyard. We left Esquimalt at meridian, July 9, 
and arrived at Departure Bay, British Columbia, at 7:50 p m.; went 
to the coal wharf at 6:45 the following morning, and finished coaling at 
4:15 p. m. on the 11th, having taken on board 185.5 tons. 
Departure Bay to UnalasJca.—We left the wharf an hour later and 
proceeded to sea, anchoring for the night in Tribune Bay. Getting 
under way at 3:30 the following morning, we passed Seymour Narrows 
at 8:35, just as the tide was beginning to ebb, which caused strong 
eddies and whirls, but the passage was made without difficulty. 
We learned in Departure Bay that clams were plentiful at Alert Bay, 
where they had beemcanned extensively ; so, wishing to procure some 
for bait, we called there, but learned that they could be had more 
plentifully at Fort Rupert. We then went to the last-named place, 
where we anchored at 6:55 p. m. A large party was sent out in the 
morning at low tide, and gathered about 4 barrels, two species being 
represented, Schizothcerus nuttalli, and the small round clam, Saocidomus 
nuttalli,both excellent for table use. About half of them were u shucked” 
and salted for bait, a bushel or more were placed in the cold room at a 
temperature of 40°, and the remainder packed in barrels, through which 
sea water was pumped at intervals. 
We left Fort Rupert at 11:30 a. m. July 13, and, passing through the 
Goleta Channel, were iu the open sea, well clear of the land, before 
dark. The passage was made under one boiler, with reduced grate 
surface, as the expenditure of coal was limited to 10 tons per day. 
Gentle to moderate winds fromSE., S.,and SW., with much overcast, 
misty, and foggy weather, were encountered. At 6:15 a. m. on the 19th 
we sounded in 2,550 fathoms brown ooze, latitude 52° 15' 00" N., longitude 
156° 37' 00" W. This was the first of a series of soundings extending 
N. 88° W., 390 miles, and made to further develop a remarkable 
submarine depression, discovered by the U. S. S. Tuscarora , to the 
southward of the Aleutian Islands. The soundings of that vessel re- 
vealed a depression simply, but geologists predicted the existence of a 
submarine trough running parallel to the islands, and extending 
probably their whole length, to the Tuscarora 1 s sounding of 4,037 fathoms 
off Attu. The Albatross soundings, supplementing those of Captain 
Belknap, developed this predicted trough to the extent of 400 miles. 
The direction was S. 65° W. and N. 65° E., nearly parallel with the 
islands, the center being 60 miles from the Shumagins and 100 miles 
from the SW. extremity of Unalaska. It is about 30 miles in width, 
between the 3,000-fathom lines, with a maximum depth of 3,820 fathoms, 
in latitude 52° 20' 00" N., longitude 165° 00' 00" W. It is to be re- 
gretted that the Albatross , which is eminently fitted for the purpose, 
