32 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Vessels of suitable type and construction might engage in fishing in the Shumagin 
region during the entire year. They would not be compelled to ride out heavy gales 
on the banks, as do the fishing vessels of the Atlantic coast, endangering lives and 
property. The numerous bays, harbors, and small islands in close proximity to most 
of the fishing grounds afford convenient shelter. If winter fishing is ever carried 
on to a great extent on the Pacific coast by vessels sent out from San Prancisco, 
however, a very different class of vessels from that now in use will have to be con- 
structed in order to weather the severe gales encountered on the passage up and down 
the coast. 
EAGLE HARBOR, NAGAI ISLAND. 
The harbor. — The Albatross reached Eagle Harbor, on the west side of Hagai Isl- 
and, August 2. This harbor offers good shelter to fishing vessels, and is in close prox- 
imity to many small fishing spots. It has no inhabitants, the high lands which descend 
on all sides close to the water’s edge leaving no level ground upon which to plant a 
settlement. There is, however, a small beach or spit extending off from the southern 
side of the entrance to the harbor which is suited to the dressing of fish, the mending 
of nets, etc. 
A vessel may anchor anywhere in the harbor in from 15 to 20 fathoms, and in the 
cove on the northern side she would find perfect protection from the sea, where she 
could haul out for repairs, fill her water casks, or gather drift wood on the beaches. 
The south cove has a narrow, tortuous etitrance, too shoal for anything larger than a 
ship’s boat at low water, but a vessel drawing 6 or 8 feet could be warped or towed in 
at high tide, and once inside would be as secure as in a dock. 
Trials for fish. — A cod trawl containing four hundred hooks was baited and set in 
16i fathoms of water across the mouth of the harbor, where it was allowed to remain four 
hours. The inner end of the trawl lay on rocky ground, but on hauling it up it was 
found that it soon ran off into muddy bottom. The catch consisted of six cod aver- 
aging 8^ pounds each, three halibut averaging 5 pounds each, and a large number of 
flounders and sculpins. The last-named species had no doubt prevented a larger 
catch of cod and halibut, by taking the bait as soon as the hooks reached bottom. 
Young cod attracted by the electric light. — During the evening the electric light was 
used at the surface with surprising success, attracting thousands of young cod, measur- 
ing about 3 inches long, which swarmed about it. With a single haul of the dip-net 
a hundred specimens were landed on deck. Some of these were placed in one of the 
aquaria, but they lived only a few days, being devoured by the larger fish confined 
with them. 
YUKON HARBOR, BIG KONIUSHI ISLAND. 
On August 8, a night anchorage was made at Yukon Harbor, but no shore inves- 
tigations were attempted. A trial for cod was made with hand lines, but only one 
specimen was taken ; flounders {Lepidopsetta bilineata) were so abundant that they 
seemed to drive all other species away. Hundreds of flocks of auks were flying about 
the harbor, and a boat being lowered several specimens were shot. 
