148 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Pass and off the Northwest Cape of Unimak Island, near the western end of Slime 
Bank. In the spring they not infrequently obtain moderately good fishing off the 
islands of Akutan, Akuu , Tigaldi, and Avatanak, between Unimak and Unalaska. 
These places compare favorably with the banks in Bristol Bay as to the size and 
quality of the cod, bi\t, as the fish are much less abundant, full fares are not taken 
there. The natives, however, have no trouble in securing, about these islands, all the 
cod, flounders, etc., needed for their own use. 
Trawl lines are not employed in Bering Sea, although they have been tried there, 
the depth of water and character of the bottom making it more convenient and profit- 
able to resort to dory hand-line fishing. 
Additional notes on the vessel fishery in Bering Sea will be found in thecU. S. 
Fish Commission Bulletin for 1888, pages 22, 23. 
Bait . — The vessels depend chiefly for their bait upon the fresh fish taken on the 
hooks during the progress of their fishing operations, and there is seldom any diffi- 
culty in obtaining all that is required for that purpose, and even much more. The 
fishes so employed, according to Mr. Alexander, consist principally of sculpins, floun- 
ders, halibut, when they can be secured, and several other small species. The small 
halibut are said to make an excellent bait, being second only to the squid in that 
respect. A small quantity of salt salmon and herring is usually taken along to serve 
for the first baitings. 
Meteorological conditions. — Capt. Tanner summarizes as follows the observations 
made upon the wind and weather in Bering Sea from the last of May to September 1, 
1890: 
Southwest winds prevailed, hut we had them frequently from southeast to northwest. It was 
boisterous weather nearly half the time, but seldom rough enough to interfere with our work. We 
had several summer gales of moderate force, but no severe storms. Fog and mist prevailed, and a 
clear day was the rare exception. The tidal currents were strongest in the vicinity of Unimak Pass 
and at the head of the bay ; they were greatly affected, however, by the winds. The flood stream set 
to the northward and slightly inshore along the coasts of Unimak and the peninsula, the ebb to the 
southward and offshore. The former was invariably the stronger, and probably found an outlet by 
sweeping past Cape Constantine in the direction of Cape Newenham. There has been no systematic 
study of the currents of Bering Sea, and the almost constant fogs prevent the navigator from adding 
much to our meager knowledge concerning them. 
The daily meteorological observations for the same period have been published 
in the Fish Commission Beport for 1890-91. 
Bogoslof Island and Volcano . — On the afternoon of August 2, 1890, the Albatross 
passed within three-fourths of a mile of Bogoslof island and volcano, of both of 
which good photographs were obtained. The day was unusually clear, Makushin and 
the high lands of Umnak being distinctly visible. Regarding the observations made 
in this interesting locality, Capt. Tanner reports as follows : 
Sail Rock had fallen, its original position being marked by. the dCbris. New Bogoslof was envel- 
oped in smoke so dense that its outline could not be accurately determined, but its altitude was not 
far from 400 feet. There were no outlying dangers visible, and a couple of soundings, taken 2 miles 
from the old cone on different bearings, gave 649 and 578 fathoms, the latter being on the reef marked 
on old charts as extending from Bogoslof to the north end of Umnak. It is needless to say that this 
reef does not exist. Myriads of guillemots were seen on the island and for 15 miles or more around 
it, and a portion of the beach was occupied by a rookery of very large sea lions. Old Bogoslof is rap- 
idly crumbling away, and will, like Sail Rock, eventually disappear. 
