INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
427 
trawl during the day, and finally, just before dark, anchored in Smug- 
gler’s Cove, San Clemente Island. Our objective point was the locality 
where, on a previous trip, we unexpectedly found a depth of 59 fathoms, 
and our anchoring was for the purpose of waiting the most favorable 
opportunity for exploring what we rightly con jectured to be an entirely 
unknown bank. 
A gill net was set soon after anchoring and taken in at 3:20 a. m. 
with nothing in it, although fish were frequently seen at the surface 
during the night. The water was unusually phosphorescent, and the 
net, being anchored in a slight current, u fired ” badly ; that is, its posi- 
tion was indicated by a phosphorescent glow on the water, which was 
probably sufficient warning for the fish to keep clear of it. 
Getting under way at 4:15 a. m., we ran a line of soundings from the 
island, finding a maximum depth of 807 fathoms. Reaching the 50- 
fathom line early in the morning, we spent the day in developing the 
bank, which may be described as follows : * . 
Its greatest length inside of the 50-fathom curve is 8 miles east and 
west (magnetic) by 2 miles in width at its eastern extremity, narrowing 
to 1 £ miles at the western end. The center of the bank, on which was 
found 48 fathoms, is in latitude 32° 43' N., longitude 119° 10' W., and 
the least water, 28 fathoms, was found near the eastern. end, in latitude 
32° 42' 30" N., longitude 119° 07' 15" W. The bottom is composed of 
sand and shells, with numerous rocky patches, on which the fauna was 
found to be identical with that of Cortez Bank in similar depths. The 
50-fathom curve on the east end lies north (true) 16 miles from Bishop’s 
Rock, both being on the same submarine plateau, with intervening 
depths of less than 300 fathoms. The same species of fish found on 
Cortez were taken on this bank, and it may be considered a valuable 
addition to the fishing grounds of the Pacific coast. 
We finished the examination at 11:20 p. m., and anchored off the 
southeast end of San Clemente at 7 a. m. on the 25th, when the natu- 
ralists were given a day on shore and along the beaches. A party of 
fishermen belonging to a San Diego sloop were encamped on the island. 
They fish with lines iu from 30 to 40 fathoms, taking fat-heads, rock-cod, 
whitefish, etc., which they split and salt, large tubs being provided for 
the purpose. They use short trawl lines at times, but that is not their 
usual custom. Spiny lobsters or crayfish are taken in pots and kept 
alive in a car till the arrival of their sloop, which calls every week or 10 
days for the catch, taking it to the San Diego market. 
Los Coronados to Point Fermin . — We were under way at 10:30 p. m., 
and at daylight on the 26th cast the trawl in 623 fathoms off* Los Coro- 
nados. Six hauls were made during the day from the above depths to 
20 fathoms between the islands. Hand lines were used at several sta- 
* This bank has been named “'Tanner Bank” by the Superintendent of the U. S. 
Coast and Geodetic Survey, in honor of its discoverer. It was first designated on 
the U. S. C. and G. S. Chart No. 601, edition of 1889. 
