428 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
tions and a general examination was made of the fishing grounds in 
that vicinity. Later in the day we steamed into the harbor of San Diego, 
where we found the U. S. steamer Banger and Coast Survey steamer 
Hassler at anchor. We went to National City for coal on the morning 
of the 29th and returned on the 31st, having taken on board 136 tons 
of Wellington coal. 
An accident to the electrical machinery detained us until the morn- 
ing of February 4, when, at 8:25 a. m., we got under way and proceeded 
to sea. Commencing at a depth of 45 fathoms off Point Loma, we ran 
a line of soundings to the vicinity of Point Fermin over ground which 
had not been examined and where we expected to find uneven bottom, 
judging from the charts of the vicinity and our own experience. Much 
to our surprise, however, the depths increased regularly to 464 fathoms, 
and then gradually decreased as we approached the latter point. 
Several hauls of the trawl were made during the day. A thick fog 
shut down soon after midnight, and in order to verify our position we- 
anchored until the weather cleared, about 10 a. in., when we got under 
w T ay and commenced the examination of a reported shoal off Point Fer- 
min. The day was spent in dredging, sounding, and hand-line fishing. 
Our own soundings and information gained from the fishermen at work 
on the ground led us to the belief that no shoal exists. 
South Bank, so called by the fishermen, may be described as follows : 
It extends about 10 miles SB. by E. (magnetic) from San Pedro light- 
house, and is from 3 to 3J miles in width. The depths increased regu- 
larly to 20 fathoms 2 miles from the point, and to 29 fathoms at the 
outer extremity. The soundings correspond generally with those of 
the Coast Survey chart, and the bottom was usually the same dark-gray 
sand ; but putting the trawl over, it frequently dragged over stony 
patches, on which kelp, sponges, bryozoans, etc., were growing. Fish in 
paying quantities are found on the patches, or u spots,” as they are 
called, red rock-cod, fat-heads, whitefish, etc., being taken at all seasons 
of the year. 
The islands and channel off Santa Barbara .— At 5 p. m., having 
finished the examination of the bank, we started for Santa Barbara 
under low speed, arriving at 6:45 the following morning. Capt. A. 
Larco, the fisherman before referred to, came on board at 8 a. m., and 
an hour later we got under way for the islands. On heaving the cable 
in we found that the anchor had become unshackled, so the spot was 
buoyed, and we continued on our course, bending the sheet anchor for 
use daring the trip. Steaming across the channel to the east end of 
Santa Cruz Island, a couple of hours were spent in the vain attempt to 
find a shoal spot discovered by Mr. Larco. The remainder of the day 
was occupied in sounding, dredging, and fishing in the channel between 
Anacapa and Santa Cruz. The eastern or Anacapa side had “ live bot- 
tom,” and is a favorite fishing ground, while on the opposite side the 
bottom consisted of clean sand with little or no life. 
