ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS; ALASKA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON. 29 
August 4 a sounding was made 2 miles N. 34° W. from the center of Bird Island, 
in the southern part of the group, depth 21 fathoms, the bottom consisting chiefly of 
broken shells. The beam trawl and trial lines were put over at the same place. A 
successful haul was made with the former, but for the flrst time since the arrival of 
the Albatross iu this region no fish were taken on the hand lines. Another rich cast 
with the beam trawl was made 4 miles N. 48° W. from the last station, 35 fathoms, 
gray sand; but the trial lines used iu a depth of 25 fathoms, gray sand, midway 
between the Twins and Fear Island, captured only two sculpins. A depth of 27 fath- 
oms was found 3 miles N. 22° E. from the last station, 26 fathoms 5 miles S. 78° E., 
37 fathoms 4 miles F. 40° E., or at the southern entrance to the strait between Spec- 
tacle and Big Koniushi Islands. The trial lines took one halibut in the last position. 
The experience above described demonstrated the absence of cod in August iu a region 
where they are found in great numbers at other seasons of the year. During the 
winter this region is a favorite fishing ground. 
A sounding of 57 fathoms was made in mid-channel, abreast of the north end of 
Spectacle Island, and another of 39 fathoms off the north end of Peninsula Island. 
The beam trawl was cast with good results in 58 fathoms. Cape Thompson bearing 
S. 76° E., distant 5 miles, and a sounding was subsequently made in 23 fathoms about 
mid-channel of the passage between the cape and Castle Rock. 
Dredgings . — The beam trawl was used in six different places among the Shumagin 
Islands, disclosing an exceedingly rich bottom fauna. The results of this work have 
been grouped under two series of three stations each. The first three stations were 
as follows : Fo. 2847, about 2 miles south of the entrance to Falmouth Harbor, Fagai 
Island, 48 fathoms, fine gray sand ; Fo. 2848, midway between Uuga and Fagai Islands, 
110 fathoms, green mud ; Fo. 2849, between Unga and Popoff Islands, 69 fathoms, 
green mud. At these stations the following genera of fishes were represented by sev- 
eral specimens each, viz : Hippoglossoides, Pleuronectes, Lepidoptsetta, Atherestes, Sebast- 
ichthys, Lycodes, Hemilepidotus, Baia, Cyclopterus, besides which there were a number 
of unidentified forms. The different groups of marine invertebrates made each a large 
showing, shrimps, crabs, amphipods, worms, gastropod mollusks, scallops, mussels, 
brachiopods, ascidians, and echinoderius being specially abundant. 
The three other stations were in the southeastern part of the group, as follows : 
Fo. 2850, north of Bird Island, 21 fathoms, broken shells ; Fo. 2851, midway between 
Bird Island and Fagai Island, 35 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells ; Fo. 2852, at the 
north end of the passage-way between Fagai and Big Koniushi Islands, 58 fathoms, 
black sand. Flounders, sculpins, eelpouts, and species of Agonidce were very abundant. 
Shrimps, crabs, and the lower Crustacea were taken in large numbers. Scallops, 
mussels, and gastropods, among the mollusks, and sea urchins, star fishes, and sea 
cucumbers, among the echiuoderms, were very numerous. 
Trials for fish off the shore. — At hydrographic station Fo. 1227, about 13 miles 
south of Euga Island, latitude 54° 56' F., longitude 160° 33' W., depth 52 fathoms, 
nine hand lines were kept over twenty-five minutes, securing nine cod, averaging 11 
pounds in weight and 30 inches long, and three flounders {Atherestes). These were 
the largest cod yet taken, being on an average 2 inches longer than the standard 
eastern size. Just north of Bird Island, in a depth of 21 fathoms, broken shells, nine 
lines were used for twelve minutes without success. One halibut weighing 4 pounds 
was the only result of a brief trial made iu 37 fathoms, just west of the southern end 
