INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
451 
Early on the following day a trawl line of 500 hooks was set in 197 
fathoms. Point Bennett, San Miguel Island, bearing NE. by N. J N., 
3J miles distant. The tide Vas running to the SE. at the time and it 
was slack water when it was hauled. It was taken up after being down 
about an hour, and 4 black-cod or beshowe, 1 red rock-cod, and 2 ratfishes 
(Chimcera) were found on the hooks. We had had no information of 
the occurrence of the black-cod so far south, but judging from the 
short time the trawl was on the bottom, it is probable that the species 
might be captured in considerable numbers in this -vicinity. 
At 5:15 p. m. on the same day the Albatross Anchored in Becher 7 s 
Bay, Santa Rosa Island, and a cod trawl was immediately set in 20 
fathoms of water, out in the bay towards Santa Cruz Channel. It re- 
mained down over night, and when examined the next morning had on 
it only 1 puffer shark (Gephaloscy Ilium ventriosum ), 3 sea-anemones, and 
1 crab. I had intended making a landing with the naturalists on Santa 
Rosa Island for the purpose of seining along the beaches, but as the 
surf was too heavy the project was abandoned. 
On the morning of January 8, while dredging was going on, a trawl 
line was tried in a depth of 20 fathoms, rocky bottom, about 7 miles to 
the southward of Point Conception. Hand lines were also used from 
the ship and from the small boat at the same time, but no fish were 
taken with either kind of gear. 
About 4 miles to the southward of Santa Barbara Light we ran into 
extensive “slicks v on the surface, caused by petroleum bubbling up 
through the water. Oil is frequently reported by the fishermen and 
sea captains in this vicinity, sometimes in small patches and at others 
covering large areas. Its prevalence in this region probably prevents 
migratory fishes from schooling in this part of the channel, and possibly 
may tend to influence their movements over a considerable distance 
both up and down the channel. 
Gor tez Bank.— January 1G we sounded in 60 fathoms on Cortez Bank 
(dredging station No. 2911, latitude 32° 27' 30" N., longitude 119° 05' 
W.), where hand lines were put over, taking two red rock-cod and one 
whitefish (Gaulolatilus princeps*) in the course of about 15 minutes. A 
second trial was made soon after at hydrographic station 1621, latitude 
32° 25' 30" N., longitude 119° 05' W. ; depth 17 fathoms ; bottom rocky. 
Fishing was carried on with hand lines for 45 minutes, during which 
time the vessel drifted into 5 fathoms of water. The results were as 
follows: 17 fat-heads ( Trochocopus pulcher ), 10 yellowtails ( Sebastodes 
flavidus ), and 2 sea bass (8 'erranus clathratus ). The strong and sharp 
teeth of the fat-heads played sad havoc with hooks and gangiugs, 
stripping the former from the snoods nearly as fast as they could be 
put on. These fish would be very destructive to trawl lines set across 
the rocky patches they frequent. The yellowtail rockfish would fol- 
* I am indebted to Prof. C. H. Gilbert, naturalist oi’the Albatross during this cruise, 
for most of the scientific names of the fishes mentioned. 
