ALBATKOSS EXPLORATIONS; ALASKA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON. 61 
rockfish, and nine dogfish, the average weight of the halibut being 55 pounds. Hali- 
but were taken at every trial made off' the Straits of Fuca, and, although there appeared 
to be no large body of these fish on the coast ab this season, a vessel could readily have 
picked up a good fare in a comparatively short time. 
On the afternoon of September 25 the trawl line was set and the dredge lowered 
in 66 fathoms, gravel and pebbles (station 2878), S. 48° W., 16 miles from (Jape Beale 
Light house, on the southern side of the entrance to Barclay Sound, Vancouver Island. 
The contents of the dredge, consisting for the most ])art of small mollusks, did not 
bear evidence of a rich bottom. The same bait was used upon the trawl line as in the 
previous trial, and the capture after two hours’ time consisted of two beshowe or black 
cod, fifteen dogfish, two common sharks, and two ground shai’ks, one of the latter 
being hauled on board and photograjihed. Only a small quantity of surface organisms 
was taken in the tow nets. 
Early on the following day two dredge hauls were made at stations 2879 and 2880, 
27 miles N. 79° W. from Cai»e Beale, in 34 fathoms, rocky bottom, with about the 
same results as at station 2878, the bottom not being rich so far as the contents of the 
dredge indicated. A trial with the halibut trawl in the same locality, lasting about 
three hours, afforded one halibut weighing 25 pounds, two sharks, and three dogfish. 
At station 2881, in the same neighborhood, but much nearer the coast. Cape Beale 
bearing S. 26° E., distant 26 miles, the dredge was cast in 24 fathoms, on a rough bot- 
tom, with fine gray sand in places. The results were not favorable to good fishing. 
The trawl line set in the same position took one' halibut weighing 15 pounds, five dog- 
fish, one shark, and one skate. The trawl, when it came up, was covered with “slime,” 
which was contrary to expectations, as the dredging which preceded it indicated clean 
bottom. The ground probably varies greatly in this region, as in many other fishing 
areas, there being numerous distinct spots where the fish resort to feed and spawn. 
September 27 and 28 were spent in Barclay Sound, and the following day a skate 
of halibut trawl was set in 60 fathoms of water, sandy and rocky bottom, 22 miles S. 
14° E. Irom Cape Beale. The trawl was kept down about two hours, with the result 
of capturing sixteen dogfish, one beshowe or black cod, one cultus cod, and three small 
halibut. This spot would probably be a good one for halibut earlier in the season, 
before the dogfish set in, and is convenient to the Straits of Fuca. It requires exam- 
ination in the spring or winter to determine its merits. 
BARCLAY SOUND, VANCOUVER ISLAND. 
The Albatross anchored September 26 in Barclay Sound, where she was detained 
by fog two days. A cod trawl, baited with halibut and salmon, was set one evening 
in a depth of 17 fathoms, and allowed to remain down over night. On hauling it the 
next morning, twenty-eight dogfish and one red rockfish were found upon the hooks. 
There are not many beaches suitable for seining in this sound, but a few were found 
on which a large variety of shore fishes was obtained. Salmon were seen darting 
about in every direction ; they are said to be very plentiful at the headwaters of the 
sound, where they enter the creeks and inlets to spawn. A few fine large specimens 
were taken by trolling. Marine invertebrates are also very abundant, and many inter- 
esting forms were collected along the shore, among whicl) were several species of star- 
fishes and fine large specimens of Limntia lewisi and Haliotis IcamtschatJcensis. 
