INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 
461 
be done by making several trials with trawl lines. Many specimens of 
a species of flatfish ( Glyptocephalus zachirus ), sometimes called “sole,” 
were collected with the black-cod. It is an excellent food-fish and 
would bring a high price in the southern markets ; but, as it could only 
be taken in paying quantities by means of the beam trawl or some simi- 
lar appliance, it will probably not become an article of trade for some 
time. 
Anchoring over night in Becher’s Bay, Santa Rosa Island, dredging 
was begun early in the morning of February 8. At station 2953, lati- 
tude 33° 47' N., longitude 119° 58' 15" W., depth 82 fathoms, the dingey 
was lowered for the purpose of testing the bottom with hand lines. A 
short distance from the above station the bottom suddenly dropped off 
into 100 fathoms and a fair trial failed to give us any results. We 
shifted our berth several times in the direction of the shore, gradually 
shoaling the water to 60 fathoms, in which depth we obtained two red 
rock-cod. The position where we left the ship was about 10 miles from 
Santa Rosa Island. In changing berths we probably worked a mile 
in towards shore, Adding this to the distance steamed by the ship in 
going over this ground and we have a rocky ledge about 5 miles long 
and with a depth of 65 to 90 fathoms developed during the morning, on 
which red rock-cod, whitefish and fat-heads will probably be abundant 
at certain seasons. The extent of the ledge, however, may be much 
greater. The results of dredging indicate a rich bottom. 
Late in the afternoon an anchorage was made on the south side of San 
Miguel Island, and just before sundown Captain Tanner and Mr. Larco 
rowed close inshore among the kelp and rocks, where, in a very short 
time, they caught 28 specimens of red rock -cod, whitefish, and rock 
bass. Nothing was taken over the ship’s side, although repeated trials 
were made, the fish appearing to hover near the shore. During the 
summer crayfish ( Panulirus ) are numerous about the shores of San 
Miguel, where they are taken both for bait and for the market. 
The next morning, getting under way at daylight, we steamed for 
Richardson Rock, which lies off the western end of San Miguel Island. 
A dense fog came rolling in from seaward, threatening to interfere with 
work, but it soon cleared away and we began a line of fishing stations 
from the rock to the northern side of the island by way of Wilson Rock. 
The first fishing was done in 44 fathoms, Richardson Rock bearing WSW. 
i W. (magnetic), distant 1 J miles. Ten red rock-cod and 10 yellow-tails 
were caught in a few minutes’ time. The next berth was in 41 fathoms, 
Wilson Rock bearing E. by S. (magnetic) 2.3 miles distant, only one small 
flounder being taken during a 10-minute trial. The last trial made 
between Richardson and Wilson Rocks was in 36 fathoms, the latter 
rock bearing ESE. (magnetic), distant 1.6 miles ; 4 red rock-cod and 3 
rock bass were captured. 
From the above station the ship ran E. J S. 1.2 miles, and hove to in 
42 fathoms, Wilson Rock bearing S. by E. £ E. and close to. Fifteen 
