24 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
center of which is about latitude 54° N., longitude 164° W. A depth of 43 fathoms 
was sounded on the southeastern part of the bank, within about 8 miles of a depth of 
342 fathoms. Between the shoaler area of the bank and the adjacent land to the 
north and west the following depths occur: Toward Unimak Island, 51 to 72 fathoms; 
toward Ugomok Island, 52 fathoms; toward Tigalda Island, 50 to 61 fathoms. The 
sounding of 41 fathoms above mentioned is the nearest to land of any less than 50 
fathoms made upon the bank, excepting in the direction of the Sannakh Islands. It 
is about 20 miles from Seal Cape, Unimak Island, and about 22 miles from Ugomok 
Island. A depth of 63 fathoms was found directly off Promontory Cape, Unimak. 
Toward the eastward the shoal area of the bank extends close to the Sannakh 
Islands, if it is not continuous with them, depths of 25 to 44 fathoms being found near 
together over a small area, just to the southwest of the islands. This shallow water 
(43 to 44 fathoms) also continues part way along the south side of the Sannakh Islands, 
midway between them and the reported positions of Lenard and Anderson Bocks. 
A line of soundings extending S. 15° E., from off the northeastern end of Ugomok 
Island toward Davidson Bank, shows less depths than occur elsewhere between the 
shoaler part of the bank and the shore, which seems to indicate a deposit along this 
line from the swift currents of Unimak Pass. 
The bottom upon the bank consists, in different places, of fine to coarse sand, 
pebbles, and gravel. Green mud was found at a depth of 95 fathoms, near the outer 
edge of the bank, and black sand in 342 fathoms just off the bank. 
Dredgings . — The beam trawl was used once on Davidson’s Bank, at Station No. 
2845, latitude 54° 05' U., longitude 164° 09' W.; depth, 42 fathoms; bottom, coarse 
black sand. Among fishes, twelve specimens of Hemilepidotus jordani, and twenty 
or more specimens of Lepidopsetta hilineata, together with two or three small unidenti- 
fied species, were taken. Shrimps and crabs were common, mollusks in small num- 
bers, sea urchins and brittle stars very abundant. 
Trials for fish . — Two trials for fish were made on Davidson Bank — one at dredging 
station No. 2845, the other at hydrographic station No. 1166. The former was in lati- 
tude 54° 05' N., longitude 164° 09' W. ; 42 fathoms; coarse black sand; clams and 
salmon being used as bait. The weather was foggy, southerly and easterly winds pre- 
vailing. Twenty-five cod were caught here in a period of twenty minutes, the bottom 
being fairly alive with them and the bait seized as rapidly as it touched bottom. The 
average weight of the fish was Ilf pounds, the average length 28 inches. The other 
trial was made on the eastern end of the bank, in latitude 54° N., longitude 163° 45' 
W. ; 45 fathoms ; fine sand ; salt clams being used as bait. While the fish seemed to 
be plentiful they did not bite as well as usual, a fresh breeze causing the ship to drift 
rapidly to leeward. Eight lines were in use for about an hour, taking twenty-one cod 
and one halibut during the drift. The halibut weighed 6J pounds ; the cod averaged 
Ilf j)ounds in weight and 24J inches in length. 
Davidson Bank is said to be annually visited by large schools of herring, squid, 
and other pelagic species, moving from deep water toward the coast, and fishing 
vessels furnished with suitable gear might obtain large quantities of surface bait 
with little trouble. 
