FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
139 
anything is known regarding the habits of these species on the Alaskan coast. The 
fishermen consider that good fares are most certain to be obtained off Port Moller, 
although successful trips have been made farther north. 
During the progress of the investigations, the schooner Vanderbilt , of San Fran- 
cisco, Capt. A. W. Smith, was observed at anchor on the Port Moller ground 
about 20 miles offshore, where she had been a little over a month. Owing to the 
excellent fishing obtained, only a single berth had been made. About 43,000 cod 
had been taken up to the time of the visit of the Albatross , and the trip was subse- 
quently completed with a fare of about 48,500 count fish, each measuring 28 inches 
and over, and several thousand small fish. Capt. Smith regards the Port Moller 
ground as superior to any other in Bering Sea, not that the fish are larger or of better 
quality than on Slime Bank, but the bottom is cleaner and jelly-fishes are not 
troublesome. He states that halibut weighing about 25 pounds are seldom taken, 
but individuals of smaller size are abundant during some seasons, and when obtained 
are used as bait. During the past season they had been scarce. From June 11 to 21, 
1890, heavy winds prevailed and prevented fishing. Stormy weather seems to scatter 
or drive the cod from the fishing-spots, and at such times it is thought they seek 
deeper water. 
Between the inner edge of Baird Bank and the adjacent mainland eight trials 
were made with hand lines in depths of 8^ to 16 fathoms, but cod were taken at only 
three of them. The total number so captured was 19; 4 near Nelson Lagoon, measur- 
ing from 28 to 32 inches; 10 off Port Moller, measuring from 26 to 32 inches; and 5 
near Port Haiden, measuring from 28 to 33 inches. 
The good fishing-spots found at the extreme northern end of Baird Bank are 
located a short distance outside of the extensive shoals surrounding Cape Constantine, 
but the head of Bristol Bay, to the northward of a line drawn from the mouth of the 
Ugaguk River to Cape Constantine, has no value as a codfishing-ground, and only a 
few fish, in poor condition, were captured here and there. The water is not only too 
fresh for this species, but, owing to the strong currents produced by the immense 
discharge from several rivers and by the tides, an unusual amount of sand and mud 
is constantly held in suspension. An examination of the stomachs of those captured 
showed that they had been feeding upon salmon, and they had evidently been 
attracted to these unsuitable waters by the presence of the latter fish. Farther south, 
on the same bank, their food embraced a great variety of bottom life, such as crusta- 
ceans of several species, holothurians, starfishes, ophiurans, sea-anemones, and other 
forms of invertebrates, as well as fishes. Small pebbles and even stones of relatively 
large size were not infrequently found in their stomachs, as has so often been recorded 
in connection with the fishing banks of the North Atlantic, but their presence may 
readily be explained by the fact that the sea-anemones and some other animals used 
as food by the cod grow firmly attached to such objects, which would naturally be 
swallowed with them. 
The conditions of weather on Baird Bank are practically the same as on Slime 
Bank. The adjacent peninsula affords a weather shore during southeast winds. Port 
Moller and Herendeen Bay will be resorted to when they are better known, and Port 
Haiden may also become available for shelter after it has been surveyed. According 
to Mr. Alexander, southerly and westerly winds cause no inconvenience on the bank, 
but a strong breeze from the northwest or southwest is immediately followed by a 
disagreeable choppy sea. 
