48 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Fishing . — Two trials for fish were made near the island. The first was at the 
anchorage on the western side, in 12 fathoms of water : but the strong southerly tide 
which was running at the time swept the leads from the bottom. No edible fish were 
taken, but dogfish were abundant. At the anchorage off the southern eud of the 
island, while the naturalists were on shore, the sailors captured the two largest hali- 
but that were taken by the Albatross on the Alaskan coast. One weighed 42 pounds, 
the other 61 pounds. Salt salmon was used as bait. 
MIDDLETON ISLAND TO PAMPLONA ROCKS. 
Hydrograjphic worh . — Leaving Middleton Island at 3 p. m., August 26, the Alba- 
tross sounded in 22 fathoms, latitude 19' N., longitude 146° 23' W., and then run- 
ning S. 53° E. from that jjosition sounded at a distance of 5 miles in 141 fathoms; 
thence 10 miles in 620 fathoms, and 20 miles in 2,425 fathoms. 
The course was then changed to N. 74° E., for Pamplona Rocks. The day ended 
with clear, pleasant weather, and smooth sea, which continued on the 27th. Forty 
miles from the last station a sounding was made in 2,224 fathoms ; 27 miles farther, in 
2,138 fathoms, and 17 miles still farther in 1,528 fathoms. Changing the course to S. 
51° E., the ship ran 17 miles to one of the positions assigned to the rocks; thence 
S. 10° W. 3 miles, and sounded in 1,763 fathoms ; east 5 miles, and S. 28° W. 7 miles, 
to another reported position, where a depth of 1,745 fathoms was found; N. 70° E. 9 
miles, sounding in 1,675 fathoms; N. 84° E. 10 miles, 1,500 fathoms, and S. 43° E. 10 
miles, 1,548 fathoms. 
Position of Pamplona Pochs . — “ The position assigned to Pamplona Rocks on Coast 
Survey Charts 701 and 702, Hydrographic Office Chart No. 527, and the Alaska Coast 
Pilot, is latitude 59° 03' N., longitude 142° 40' W. ; but Coast Survey Chart 960 places 
them in latitude 59° 35' N., longitude 142° 04' W. 
“Icousidered it highly important that these dangers should be located in the 
interest of commerce as well as the fisheries, and as time would not permit an exami- 
nation of both localities, we selected that which seemed to have the weight of evidence 
in its favor. The weather was remarkably clear, and the search was made during the 
middle of the day, with a lookout on the top-gallaut yard, his line of vision extending 
10 miles or more on either hand, without detecting any sign of rocks or shoals. The 
soundings were regular and gave no indication of shoaling water, so that it may be 
stated positively that the rocks do not exist within 20 miles of the assigned position. 
“Coast Survey Chart No. 960 places them nearer land, where 40 to 50 fathoms 
are found in their vicinity, and where rocks, banks, or a ledge, as these dangers are 
called by different authorities, might be expected to exist. The snow-clad heights of 
Mount St. Elias, from 90 to 100 miles distant, were visible during the day, and many 
snowy j)eaks of less magnitude could also be seen from time to time.” 
PAMPLONA ROCKS TO PUGET SOUND. 
Hydrographio teorje and narrative, — Leaving the locality where search was made 
for Pamplona Rocks, a course was laid for the northern end of Vancouver Island. 
On August 28 two soundings were made, the first, 50 miles S. 43° E. from the last 
station (latitude 58° 17' N., longitude 140° 35' W.), in 1,815 fathoms, gray ooze; the 
second, 50 miles farther in the same directio.i, 1,778 fathoms, brown and gray oo5;e. 
