146 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Mr. Alexander reports that the trials made in close proximity to Cape Cheerful 
indicated the presence of cod in considerable numbers, those captured having an 
average weight of about 11 pounds. In the vicinity of Priest Point the fishing was 
less successful, but a diligent search might disclose good bottom here and there, which 
had been overlooked in the hurried investigations of the Albatross. Although halibut 
have never been found here in abundance, they have not at any time been specially 
sought for, and it is therefore possible that they may be plentiful in some places. 
The bays, harbors, and streams in all parts of the island are well filled with salmon 
during the proper season, but the run is not sufficiently large to induce the establish- 
ment of canneries, as on Kadiak Island and in some other parts of the territory. 
Cape Cheerful to Makushin Bay . — The 100-fathom curve lies about 4 miles from 
shore at Cape Cheerful, but it draws in abruptly to about a mile or less until up with 
Cape Makushin, where the platform again widens out. From the latter cape a line of 
soundings was run to Makushin Bay, a large and secure harbor, containing a village 
of the same name, which consists, however, of only a small frame church, a store 
belonging to the Alaska Commercial Company, and a dozen barabaras, or native earth 
huts. As a rule, very poor success attended the trials for fish along this section of 
the coast, but this may have been due in part to the unfavorable weather which pre- 
vailed. In some places cod were fairly abundant, the largest catches being made near 
shore, although the fish were smaller in such positions than in deeper water. Excel- 
lent results were obtained at the entrance to a small indentation or bay, 11 miles east 
of Cape Makushin, both cod and halibut being secured, three specimens of the latter 
weighing 6£, 8, and 15 pounds, respectively. 
By means of the drag seine, large numbers of humpback salmon, trout, young cod, 
and flounders were captured in Makushin Bay. The beaches are smooth and well 
adapted to this method of fishing. Two small streams enter the bay near the settle- 
ment. The larger of these brings down considerable quantities of sediment, but this, 
apparently, does not prevent the salmon from ascending it to the same extent that they 
do the clear stream. 
Makushin Bay to Umnak Island . — At Cape Makushin the coast falls away abruptly 
toward the south, the entire western part of Unalaska being very narrow, and, 
together with the adjacent shores of Umnak Island and the coast between Makushin 
cape and bay, encircling a bay some 32 miles in greatest width. Within these limits 
the 100-fathom line lies from 12 to 23 mdes offshore, furnishing an area of consider- 
able extent, over which the bottom seemed favorable for cod and halibut, the fauna 
generally resembling that on Baird and Slime banks. Very few fish were obtained, 
however, until the ship had reached the neighborhood of Chernoffsky, although a 
more thorough search might show them to be equally abundant to the eastward. The 
beam trawl was used successfully in the vicinity of Makushin Bay and Cape Hague, 
but only 5 cod were secured in as many trials with hand lines. Halibut are also 
reported from these localities, but nothing was learned respecting their abundance. 
Excellent cod-fishing was obtained at nearly every station made directly off 
Chernoffsky Bay, but less success was met with toward and to the west of Umnak 
Pass, although practically the same character of bottom was observed throughout the 
entire area. These differences in the abundance of fish were probably only temporary, 
due to the state of the tide or to other conditions changing from time to time. In one 
trial off Chernoffsky, in 42 fathoms, 53 cod and 5 halibut were taken on the hand lines 
