454 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
but on leaving these places good fishing stopped. The fishing greatly 
resembled that for red snappers in the Gulf of Mexico. 
At hydrographic station 1636, 45 fathoms, no fish were taken. We 
were possibly drifting in a little gully, and a slight change of position 
to either side might have brought us over good ground. It frequently 
happens that in fishing for rock-cod off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, some 
boats may have excellent success while others only a few feet away will 
be unable to secure a bite. Twenty- two whitefish, 11 red rock-cod, and 3 
fat-heads were subsequently secured in 20 minutes at hydrographic sta- 
tion 1639, 30 fathoms ; and 11 fat-heads, 4 yellow- tails, 1 black rock-cod T 
and 1 scorpion (Scorpcena guttata ), in a few minutes, at hydrographic 
station 1640, 11 fathoms. The last trial of the day was made shortly 
after dark at hydrographic station 1641, 51 fathoms, for the purpose of 
determiningthe effects of darkness upon the fishing. Theresults seemed 
to prove that the fish will not bite after dark, as we were in a good 
locality and could feel the fish constantly striking against our leads and 
lines. Not a single specimen was taken on the hooks, however. 
San Nicolas Island to San Diego.— We arrived at San Nicolas Island 
early on the morning of January 18 and anchored a short distance off- 
shore on the southern side. Soon after breakfast a seining party 
landed, but only two hauls were made on the beaches, a heavy sea fill- 
ing the boats and tearing the seine on the second trial. An interesting 
collection of fishes, however, was obtained. While preparing to leave, 
a Chinese fishing boat rounded the point and anchored near us. This 
Oriental-looking craft was in search of abalone shells, which are found 
in great abundance on San Nicolas Island. The Chinese fishermen of 
San Diego and neighboring places do a lucrative business in gathering 
these^shells and shipping them to the various markets of the Pacific 
coast. 
The ship returned to San Diego January 19, and the following day 
numerous seine hauls were made in Spanish Bight, a small sandy bay 
on the southern side of the harbor. Nothing was taken worthy of 
special notice, although the net was tried in every available spot. The 
scarcity of fish may have been due to the state of the tide, which was 
ebbing at the time. 
Tanner Bank ; San Clemente Island.— On the morning of January 23 
the ship again went to sea, and for 4 days dredging, sounding, fishing, 
and shore collecting were carried on without interruption. A line of 
stations was first run to San Clemente Island, an anchorage being 
made for the night in Smuggler’s Cove on the south side of the island. 
During the evening a herring and a mackerel net were set a short dis- 
tance from the ship. While doing so we noticed close by what appeared 
to be a small school of young herring, but on hauling the nets at 5:30 
the next morning they were to our surprise entirely empty. It is pos- 
sible that the school of fish observed was the only one that entered the 
cove that night, and the fish may have been too small to mesh in the 
