INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
417 
banks reported to exist 60 and 75 miles from the cape. The depths 
were irregular for 30 miles, then increased uniformly to 768 fathoms at 
the former and 1,239 fathoms at the latter position. The reports were 
from shipmasters who said they had sounded on the banks and kuew 
they were there. No doubt they found 60 or 70 fathoms as reported, 
but they were 15 or 20 miles out in their reckoning. 
The wind began blowing from the southward and eastward soon after 
we passed Cape Flattery, and became a moderate gale at 7 a. m., with a 
heavy swell, which increased during the day. At 4 p. m., when the line 
was finished, the sea was too rough to continue work, so we lay to sev- 
eral hours, then steamed in shore under low speed until we sighted 
Flattery Light, and lay to again until 7 a. m., September 20. The wind 
moderated during the night, the rain ceased, and the weather partially 
cleared. The sea went down also, but a heavy swell rolled in from the 
southward and westward, causing the vessel to tumble about badly 
whenever she was allowed to get in the trough of the sea. Vivid 
lightning was observed during the night over the land in the direction 
of the Olympian range. 
The trawl was cast at 11 a. m in 171 fathoms, No. 2866, S. 40° W., 19 
miles from Flattery light-house, and although the swell was still heavy 
the haul was successful. Another haul was made at 1:40 p. m. in 37 
fathoms, No. 2867, S. 23° W., 17 miles from the light, and at 3 p. m. we 
set the trawl line in 31 fathoms, gray sand, near the last station. It 
was allowed to remain on the bottom 2 hours, and on hauling it 3 dog- 
fish, 8 sharks, and 1 halibut were taken, the latter weighing about 140 
pounds. 
At 7:34 p. m. we sounded in 178 fathoms, gray sand, S. 34° W., 19 
miles from Flattery light, and ran a liue 30 miles S. 68° W. in 77, 82, 
218, 90, 141, and 378 fathoms ; S. 82° E., 15 miles, in 247, 462, and 522 
fathoms; and N. 73° E., 25 miles, in 378, 206, 67, 52, and31fathoms. The 
trawl liue was set at the last station, taking one skate (Raid cooperi ), 
one dogfish ( Squalus acanthias ), two starfish, and two fish not recog- 
nized. A successful haul of the trawl, No. 2868, was made while the 
line was down, but the bottom was found to be comparatively barren. 
Trial lines were put over the side without result. 
We then ran S. 36° E., 15 miles, nearly parallel with the coast, sound- 
# ing in 30, 33, and 32 fathoms, the trawl being lowered at the last sta- 
tion, No. 2869. The bottom was composed of fine gray sand, perfectly 
cleau, without adhering growths of any kind. A line was then run off- 
shore S. 73° W,, 20 miles, sounding in 53, 75, 111, and 287 fathoms; 
then S. 17° E., 15 miles, in 535, 758, and 578 fathoms; turning in shore 
we ran N. 73° E., 20 miles, sounding in 386, 82, 51, and 28 fathoms; S. 
17° E., 15 miles, in 28, 28, and 28 fathoms; and S. 70° W., 25 miles, in 
41, 56, 74, 93, and 438 fathoms. Rocky patches alternated with fine 
gray sand and mud on the last line, denoting a marked change from 
the uniform gray sand fouud thus far south of Cape Flattery. 
H. Mis. 274 27 
