138 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
trials having been 14 minutes. The average weight of the fish was 9J pounds and 
their average length 27£ inches. In some places, however, a large proportion of the 
fish ranged from 28 to 35 inches in length. 
Three trials were located directly off Port Moller, at distances of 16 to 33 miles 
from land, in depths of 25 to 39 fathoms. At these stations 65 cod were obtained 
during an aggregate period of 60 minutes, the average weight of the fish being 13 
pounds and their average length about 30f inches; the range in length was from 19 
to 39 inches. 
Off Cape Seniavin, within an area 23 miles long, extending 44 miles from shore, 9 
trials, averaging about30 minutes each, yielded 102 cod, or an average of 111.- to a trial. 
The average weight of the fish was lOf pounds, their average length 29^ inches, and 
their range in length from 20 to 36 inches. The average length of the trials was much 
increased in this region by the fact that at one of the stations, about 12 miles off the 
cape, fishing was continued for 2£ hours. Forty-one cod were taken at this station 
in a depth of 20 fathom s, and 33 cod about 23 miles farther to the eastward, in 30 
fathoms. 
Another important group of stations occurs off Port Haiden and between there 
and Cape Menchikof, covering a length of 28 miles and a width of 67 miles from shore. 
Eleven trials were made, averaging 14i minutes in length, the total catch amounting to 
210 fish, an average of about 19£ fisb to a trial. The average weight was lOf pounds, the 
range in length from 18 to 36 inches, and the average length 29§ inches. 
From off Cape Menchikof to the northern extremity of the bank, a distance of 
some 40 miles, seven trials were made in depths of 11 to 24 fathoms, the average dura- 
tion of each trial having been about 13 £ minutes. The total catch was 75 cod, an 
average of about 10-f to each trial. The average weight of the fish was 12 pounds, their 
range in length from 26 to 34 inches, and their average length 30£ inches. 
A comparison of the results obtained at each of the groups of stations above dis- 
cussed furnishes some interesting facts respecting the value as fishing-grounds of 
different parts of Baird Bank, but they are not to be considered as entirely conclusive, 
owing to the relatively short duration of the fishing trials. For many reasons, how- 
ever, such a comparison is important, especially as directing the attention of the fish- 
ermen to localities which they have not visited. 
The relative abundance of the cod in the different areas may be expressed by 
the proportion of fish to the length of time occupied in making the trials, which, 
reduced to minutes, shows that the best results in this respect were obtained off Port 
Haiden, the remaining areas coming in the following order: North of Cape Menchi- 
kof, off Port Moller, off Cape Seniavin, and off Lagoon Point. A comparison of the 
groups of stations with reference to the average weight and the average length of the 
cod necessitates a somewhat different arrangement from that above given, the area 
off Port Moller (13 pounds, 30§ inches) taking precedence, followed by u north of Cape 
Menchikof” (12 pounds, 30f inches), “ off Port Haiden” (lOf pounds, 29f inches), “off 
Cape Seniavin” (lOf pounds, 29^ inches), u off Lagoon Point” (9J pounds, 27^ inches). 
Many additional observations are required, however, before passing finally upon 
the relative values of the different parts of the bank, and this is all the more evident 
when it is considered that the examinations by the Albatross were restricted to a 
very brief period during one summer. The distribution of cod, moreover, is greatly 
influenced during some seasons by the movements of certain migratory fishes which 
they seek as food, such as the capelin, herring, and sand lance, but at present scarcely 
