448 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Coast of Washington . — A sudden and marked change in the color of 
the water was observed after we passed Cape Disappointment, the light 
green of the region off Columbia River giving place to a dark olive- 
brown strongly resembling the cypress water of the Virginia and Caro- 
lina swamps. It became somewhat lighter as we approached the coast 
near Cape Flattery, but off shore and on the banks south of Vancou- 
ver Island it still retained the peculiar tint described, which seemed to 
indicate its northern origin. 
The weather became overcast and misty after dark, and at midnight 
we were enveloped in a dense fog, through which we groped our way 
to the halibut bank off Cape Flattery, where, at 10:27 a. m., on the 14th, 
we sounded in 31 fathoms, gravel and broken shells, and set a trawl 
line. Trial lines were put over the side whenever the vessel was lying 
still, taking several red rock-cod and a halibut weighing 93 pounds. 
The trawl line was allowed to remain on the bottom about 3 hours, taking 
8 halibut, 10 red rock-cod, i cultus-cod, and a few scattering specimens 
of other fish. This result, considering that the line was set without 
previous trials, indicated the presence of large numbers of halibut and 
rock-cod and very few dogfish, only 3 or 4 having been taken. 
The boats returned at 2 p. m. and, the fog being still very thick, we 
felt our way into Neeak Bay for a harbor, intending to continue our 
work as soon as the weather favored us. The 15th brought no improve- 
ment, the indications being so unpromising that we considered it ad- 
visable to return to the sound, and leaving our anchorage at 4.20 a. m. 
we arrived at Port Townsend at 2 p. m., where we found a quantity of 
supplies awaiting us. After taking them on board we steamed to 
Seattle, where we arrived at 6:40 p. m. The city front presented a 
most desolate appearance, nearly 100 acres having been burned over. 
The hundreds of busy men seen clearing the wreck next morning, 
preparatory to rebuilding, is an evidence of the push and enterprise 
of the people of this young and promising city. 
We remained at anchor until the afternoon of the 18th, when we got 
under way and made a couple of hauls of the trawl in 82 and 135 fath- 
oms off Dwamish Head. Among the specimens taken were several 
chimmras, three species ©f flounders, hake,- skate, starfish, sea-anemoces, 
shrimp, shells, etc., none of them in large numbers. Having finished 
dredging we anchored off Point Orchard and sent out a seining party, 
but they met with indifferent success. Fishing and seining parties were 
away during the forenoon of the 19th, and at Meridian we got under 
way and returned to Seattle. 
A consignment of 6 barrels of alcohol reached Port Townsend, and 
on receiving information of its arrival we went there immediately and 
took it on board, intending to make a short cruise off the coast before 
going to the mines for coal. We were detained by unfavorable weather 
until 10:50 a. m., on the 27th, when we got under way and proceeded 
to sea. 
