INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
455 
nets. The only reason that can be assigned for our obtaining no speci- 
mens was the exceeding phosphorescence of the water which caused the 
entire net, even to the foot line, to glow as with a bright flame, thus 
bringing it out into bold relief, and each time that the float rose and fell 
with the waves brilliant sparks would be emitted over a considerable 
distance. Phosphorescence always tends to warn fish against meshing 
in the gill nets at night, but in night seining, especially with mackerel, 
it is often of great assistance to the fishermen in locating the schools. 
From' Smuggler’s Cove the ship proceeded to Tanner Bank. The 
shallow part of the bank was reached early in the day, and dredging and 
hand line fishing were begun. The results were practically the same as 
on Cortez Bank, the species of fish being identical in the two localities, 
and not differing materially in their relative abundance. Fair fishing 
was obtained at hydrographic station 1G79, 28 fathoms, rocky bottom, 
the catch consisting of 9 red- rock cod, 6 whitefish, 2 yellow-tails and 
one fat-head. Several other successful fishing trials were made during 
the day. 
Early on the morning of the 25th the steamer anchored under the 
southeast end of San Clemente Island, and two parties were landed for 
the purpose of seining and shore collecting. One party, consisting of 
Professor Gilbert, six seamen, and the writer, landed on along smooth 
sand beach, about 2 miles from the ship’s anchorage. It was an ex- 
cellent place for working the net, without a single rock in sight for a 
distance of at least a mile and a half, but the surf running somewhat 
heavily caused us a little trouble. Bepeated hauls were made with the 
seine, and it is safe to say that we probably obtained representatives of 
nearly all the species of fish that were congregated along the beach at 
that time. In nearly every haul there were large numbers of the 
viviparous perch ( Holconotus argenteus), together with a few “ smelts.” 
After the seining had been finished, the party made a brief examina- 
tion of the island, securing, however, only two lizards as a result of the 
natural -history collecting. 
Fisheries about San Diego. — On the morning of January 26 investi- 
gations were begun in the vicinity of Los Coronados Islands. The first 
trial for fish was made with hand lines at hydrographic station 1706, 
latitude 32° 25' N., longitude 117° 18' W., 51 fathoms, 5 red rock-cod and 
1 fat-head being taken. The next fishing was done at dredging station 
2931, 34 fathoms, latitude 32° 25' 30" N., longitude 117° 16' 45" ’JV., and 
was a failure. These stations were between the North and South Cor- 
onados. A small Italian fishing boat was anchored close by where the 
last trial was made. She was on a favorite spot, but had met with poor 
success, the catch for the previous 24 hours having amounted to only 
about 50 pounds of red rock- cod, whitefish, and fat-heads. During the 
summer months these species are sometimes very abundaut. 
Such fish as are taken in the viciuity of Los Coronados and' San 
Diego bring from 3 to 4J cents per pound. Very few are salted by 
