ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS; ALASKA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON. 13 
the region between Sannakh Bank and the Shumagin Islands the bottom consists of 
sand, mud, pebbles, gravel, and rocks, but the last-mentioned material occurs only in 
the neighborhood of the islands and of Sannakh Bank. In the corresponding area 
between the Shumagin Islands and Kadiak Island fine sand was most abundant in 
depths less than 100 fathoms, with the admixture in places of pebbles, gravel, and 
broken shells, and occasional patches of mud and coarse sand. Green and blue mud 
usually composed the bottom in depths over 100 fathoms, but sand and rocks were 
also recorded. 
Off Unalashka sand was traced down to a depth of 228 fathoms, with mud at 261 
fathoms. Black sand was found in 342 fathoms just off Davidson Bank, while mud 
occurred in 435 fathoms off Sannakh Bank, with rocky patches at depths of 265 and 
464 fathoms. Sand and rocks composed the bottom off Shumagin Bank, in 105 to 119 
fathoms. Off Albatross and Portlock Banks gray sand was discovered in 298 fathoms 
and black sand in 594 fathoms. Muddy bottom, however, occurs in places close tc 
the 100 fathom line, but in the pocket which indents the southwestern end of the latter 
bank, with depths of 102 to 166 fathoms, the bottom consists entirely of sand. A root 
spot was found off Albatross Bank, in a depth of 485 fathoms. 
RESULTS OP DREDGINGS AND FISHING TRIALS ON THE ALASKAN GROUNDS. 
Dredging trials . — The beam trawl and the naturalists’ dredge were frequently used 
upon the banks in order to determine the richness of the bottom as feeding grounds 
for fish. Nearly all the trials were very successful, resulting in the collection of a 
large amount of material bearing upon the natural history of this new and important 
region. The examination and identification of this material will, however, require 
considerable time, and until that has been done it will be impossible to report upon it 
fully, or, in fact, to state more than its general character and value. As was to be 
expected, the assemblage of forms strongly recalls the fauna of the great fishing banks 
of Eastern North America, and many of the species from these two northern regions 
will probably be found to be identical on both sides of the continent. The more con- 
spicuous features of the hauls were the fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms. 
Edible fishes, crabs, and shrimps were frequently taken, the last-mentioned group often 
in great numbers. The dredging operations were entirely subordinated to those of 
sounding, as it was considered most important to first determine the outlines and con- 
tours of the banks, but the results were ample to prove the exceeding richness of the 
grounds with respect to the lower forms of animal life, upon which their value for fish- 
ing entirely depends. The details of the natural history work, so far as they can be 
given at this time, will be found in the main body of this report in connection with the 
discussion of each of the fishing banks. 
Trials for fish . — The trials for fish on the Alaskan banks and other offshore 
grounds were made entirely with hand lines. Cod and halibut were the principal 
species taken, and are the only ones to which we need refer in this connection. Six 
to nine lines were generally used at each trial, which occupied from fifteen minutes to 
something over an hour each, according to circumstances. Salt clams and salmon 
were chiefly employed as bait, and pollock, sculpins, and cod occasionally. The depth 
at which the fishing was done ranged from 27 to 84 fathoms, and every variety of 
bottom observed upon the banks was tried. A complete record of all the captures 
