ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS; ALASKA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON, 51 
DEPARTURE BAY, VANCOUVER ISLAND. 
Collecting . — A delay of two days while coaling at Departure Bay, July 10 and 11, 
was utilized to advantage in seining along the neighboring shores, during which many 
interesting fishes and marine invertebrates were secured. The larger fishes obtained 
were Bitrema laterale (blue perch), Damalichthys argyrosomus (white perch), Microme- 
trus aggregatm, Sebastichthys paucispinis, Oph iodon elongatus, and Chimmra colUei. The 
first four species were taken in considerable numbers at each haul of the seine. Bitrema 
and Micrometrus are highly esteemed as pan fish. From one adult specimen of Bamal- 
ichthys argyrosomus thirty young ones were obtained, one of which lived in the aqua- 
rium on board the ship for two days, The young were much compressed laterally; 
body above lateral line faint purplish, below more inclined to silvery; fins transparent, 
pinkish, very soft and membranous, larger in proportion to size of body than in the 
adult. This species was not found with its young later in the season. The great rise 
and fall of tide which occurs in this region, amounting to about 15 feet, makes it very 
easy to collect the marine invertebrates along the shores. The large many-armed star 
fish {Pycnopodia helianthoides) is abundant at Departure Bay. 
Fishery notes . — There are only a few fishermen at Departure Bay, all of whom are 
Italians. They fish chiefly for dogfish, which school in vast numbers in the bay and 
in the neighboring indentations of the coast during the winter months. As spring 
approaches the dogfish migrate to the Gulf of Georgia to feed upon herring and other 
small fish. About the first of December a large school of herring seeks the waters of 
Departure Bay, closely pursued by the dogfish. At this time the Italians begin their 
fishing, which is actively continued until March, when the herring leave the bay for 
deeper water. Gill nets only are used for the capture of dogfish. They are 40 fath- 
oms long, from 20 to 25 feet deep, and have a 6-inch mesh. They are made of hemp 
and cost from $12 to $15 each. The floats are of cork and have the same size and 
shape as those used on the mackerel purse seines ; they are obtained in San Francisco. 
The rainy season begins in November and lasts until February. The prevailing 
winter winds are from the southeast. Strong northerly winds, however, occasionally 
sweep down the coast during that season, and at such times the dogfish generally leave 
the bay for a few days, or until the wind changes back. Salmon are most abundant 
in September. Spring salmon strike the coast in November, and are caught during 
the winter months; a few are occasionally taken in the dogfish nets. No halibut are 
caught at this place, but skates are numerous. Cod seldom enter the bay, but are 
found outside in deeper water. Those taken are not large, averaging about 5 pounds 
each. They are not often fished for and are not considered of much commercial value. 
It has not, apiiarently, occurred to the Italian fishermen that the herring, so 
abundant in Departure Bay, is a valuable oil-producing fish. A few have been smoked 
for the local trade, and it is stated that during the coming winter this method of prepar- 
ing them will be attempted on a much larger scale. Dogfish oil brings 50 cents per 
gallon at Nanaimp, and “ratfish” oil (the oil from Chimwra colliei), 75 cents per gallon. 
These oils are used by the W elliugton Coal Company for lubricating purposes. The fish- 
ermen carry on their business on a small island in the bay, and at times they realize 
considerable profit from it. Three dollars per day is said to be regarded as fair wages. 
They are very primitive and uncleanly both in their way of living and in their methods 
of extracting the oil. With proper facilities the preparation of herring and dog- 
