BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
la 
supposed dangers to navigation, but no trace of them was found within 20 miles of 
this locality. Having finished this examination, a course was laid down the coast, 
sounding and dredging stations occasionally being made on the way until September 
1, when the steamer entered Goleta Channel and proceeded through the inland pas- 
sage to Departure Bay, making night anchorages in Alert Bay and Tribune Bay. 
After coaling at Departure Bay the voyage was continued to Seattle, Wash. Several 
casts of the beam trawl were made during the inland trip from Goleta Channel south- 
ward. 
It was September 6 when the Albatross arrived at Seattle, where she was detained 
until the 17th of the same month, undergoing a few necessary repairs. The examina- 
tion of the coasts of Washington Territory and Oregon was then begun. During the 
progress of this work visits were paid to Port Townsend, Neeah Bay, Victoria, Barclay 
Sound, and Departure Bay, the last three places being on Vancouver Island. The 
first trip lasted until October 1, during which time the explorations were carried on 
along the outer coast from Barclay Sound, in the north, to off Shoalwater Bay, Wash- 
ington Territory, in the south. Four days were spent at Seattle, after which the work 
was continued southward from Shoalwater Bay to Heceta Bank, Oregon, a visit also 
being paid to Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia Eiver. San Francisco was reached 
October 21. 
3. SUMMARY OF RESULTS. 
ALASKA. 
As previously explained the steamer Albatross was sent to Alaska chiefly for the 
purpose of developing the off-shore fishing grounds occurring upon the submerged 
continental border south of the Aliaska Peninsula and the easternmost of the Aleu- 
tian Islands. Work was begun in the neighborhood of Unalashka Island and carried 
thence eastward to the reported position of Pamplona Eocks, in latitude 59° 03' N., 
longitude 142° 40' W. Although much foggy weather was encountered, making it 
difficult at times to locate the sounding stations with accuracy, the investigations were 
vigorously pushed and most successful results were accomplished. When detained in 
port for the purpose of coaling or to escape bad weather, attention was paid to the 
in-shore fishery resoui’ces and to the practical fisheries, resiiecting both of which sub- 
jects important information was obtained. In the report following this summary will 
be found a complete detailed account of all of these explorations, the brief outline of 
results here given having reference only to the off-shore grounds. 
The five banks whose positions were indicated by older surveys, namely, David- 
son, Sannakh, Shumagin, Albatross, and Portlock Banks, were more thoroughly exam- 
ined than were the intervening areas, some of which, however, may, upon further 
examination, prove to contain fishing banks of e«\ual value, and not inferior in size to 
at least the smaller of the banks mentioned. Good fishing was obtained at nearly all 
localities where trials were made with hand lines, whether upon defined banks or upon 
the more level grounds between them, and it is natural to infer that the entire sub- 
merged plateau from off Unalashka Island to Fairweather Ground is one immense fishing 
bank, limited upon the outer side only by the abru])t slope, which may be said to begin 
about the 100-fathom curve. Equally good fishing can not be expected to exist in all 
parts of this area, some places being more favorable for the feeding and spawning of 
