FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
149 
OFF THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA. 
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 
The first investigations made by the steamer Albatross in the North Pacific Ocean 
were conducted during the summer of 1888 off the southern side of the Alaska 
Peninsula and the easternmost of the Aleutian Islands, between Unalaska Island, in 
the west, and Middleton Island, in the east. The examinations covered the entire 
width of the submerged continental platform within these limits, including the best- 
known of the Alaskan fishing- grounds for cod, the greatest amount of time being 
spent in those localities which promised the most important practical results. A 
complete review of the work accomplished on this survey has been published in the 
Bulletin of the Fish Commission for 1888 (pp. 1-92), together with a large chart suit- 
able for navigation purposes, making it unnecessary, in this connection, to give more 
than a general summary of the observations. 
The ship left San Francisco, Cal., on this expedition, July 4, 1888. After coaling 
at Departure Bay, British Columbia, and making the passage inside of Vancouver 
Island, a course was laid in the direction of the Shumagin Islands, off which a line of 
deep-sea soundings was begun on July 19, being carried thence to the vicinity of 
Kiliuliuk Bay, Unalaska. The fishery investigations were commenced off the latter 
island, and were continued northeasterly along the coast. 
Ten or eleven days were spent in the vicinity of Unalaska and Unimak Islands, 
including Davidson Bank. Soundings were carried through Unimak Pass and off the 
northern side of Akun and Akutan Islands to Iliuliuk Harbor, Unalaska, where a 
supply of coal was obtained, and where opportunity was given to study the fisheries 
and the inshore fishing-grounds of the region. The reported positions of Lenard Bock 
and Anderson Bock, south of the Sannak Islands, were examined July 30, and on the 
following day the steamer arrived at Humboldt Harbor, Popoff, one of the Shumagin 
Islands. At this place the services of Capt. Paul M. Pavloff, a well-known pilot of 
the coast, were secured. Subsequently, Eagle Harbor, Hagai Island, and Yukon 
Harbor, Big Koniushi Island, were visited. About six days were spent in the region 
between the Sannak Islands and the Shumagins, and on Shumagin Bank, the explora- 
tion of which was completed August 6. From the Shumagin Islands soundings were 
carried to Mitrofania island and bay on the mainland, and thence to Light-house 
Bocks, Ohirikoff Island, and the Trinity Islands, the Albatross arriving at Old Harbor, 
on the southern side of Kadiak Island, August 10. The development of Albatross 
Bank occupied five days, and on the 14th the harbor of St. Paul, the eastern end 
of Kadiak Island was reached. The steamer was detained here until the 20th in 
coaling and in studying the fisheries and shore fishing- grounds, beginning the investi- 
gation of Portlock Bank August 21. On the afternoon of the 24th an anchorage was 
made off Middleton Island, which was visited the next day for the purpose of deter- 
mining its precise position and the character of its surroundings. From this point the 
Albatross proceeded to one of the reported positions of Pamplona Bocks, in lat. 59° 03' 
N., long. 142° 40' W., where a thorough search was made for these supposed dangers 
to navigation, but no trace of them was found within 20 miles of this locality. Having 
finished this examination a course was laid down the coast for Seattle, Wash. 
Although much foggy weather was encountered during the summer, making it 
difficult at times to locate the sounding stations with accuracy, the work was prose- 
cuted without serious delays, and very successful results were accomplished. The 
