422 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
a few minutes before noon, but was extinguished in a couple of hours, 
after shifting several tons of coal. It was a slow and tedious process, 
as the lire was in the after end of the bunker, which was full of coal. It 
originated from an auxiliary steam pipe covered with a 3-inch manilla 
rope, which proved an insufficient protection under the pressure of coal 
stored around it. 
Mr. F. C. Reed, State fish commissioner, aud others interested in the 
coast fisheries called during the afternoon. Hon. J. H. D. Gray, Col- 
onel Taylor, and other prominent residents of Astoria visited the ship 
on the 15th. In discussing the fisheries of the region it soon became 
evident that a belief in the existence of banks 50 to 60 miles off the 
Columbia River was quite general, but we were unable to trace its 
origin, Heceta Bauk lies off the coast, in latitude 41° 00' N., longitude 
124° 50' W., and may possibly have had something to do with it. The 
explorations of the Albatross developed over 600 fathoms in the region 
where the banks were supposed to lie, but they may be found further 
south, as the region between the Columbia River and Heceta Bank is 
still unexplored. 
The sea fisheries off the Columbia were commenced a few years since 
with a small schooner which operated a 40-foot beam trawl over the 
ground between Cape Disappointment and Shoalwater Bay. The ves- 
sel being found unfit for the purpose, the steamer Dolphin was built and 
made 40 trips between April and October, 1887, but she also proved a 
failure. Her catch, was fairly good, and had she been able to market 
her fish promptly the venture would have turned out profitably. The 
various fish taken by the Dolphin were classified as follows, viz : Sole, 
flounders, hake, cod, rock-cod, and halibut. Yery few cod and halibut 
were taken, sole predominating, although at times rock-cod were abun- 
dant. Crabs and a few large clams were also taken. 
Judge Swan left us on the 16th and returned to Port Townsend. 
We left Astoria at 10:35 a. m., October 18, and at 2:55 p. m. set the 
trawl line off Tillamook Rock, where Captain Richardson of the light- 
house steamer Manzanita reported having taken red rock-cod (called 
grouper in Astoria) in great numbers and an occasional halibut. We 
found nothing but dogfish on the trawl lines, showing that the coast of 
Oregon as well as that of Washington is infested by them during the 
fall months. Three hauls of the dredge were made in the vicinity over 
hard sand bottom with occasional rocky patches, and although few speci- 
mens were taken there are indisputable evidences that the region about 
Tillamook is ai^excellent fishing ground at certain seasons of the year. 
Heceta BanJc . — At 7.30 a. m. ou the 19th, the trawl line was set in 50 
fathoms, rocky bottom (No. 2886), on Heceta Bank. The dredge was 
lowered, developing a “live bottom v similar to that found on the best 
fishing banks. Two attempts were made to haul the beam trawl, but? 
the net caught on the rough, rocky bottom and was wrecked on both 
occasions. The trawl line when hauled contained single specimens of 
