164 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
mon in these localities, but nowhere abundant, and it was often necessary to shift 
position twice a day. A fare of 140,000 pounds was finally secured. The fish aver- 
aged about 65 pounds feach in weight, and on the British Columbian coast none were 
captured in greater depths than 45 fathoms. Capt. Calder, of the Oscar and Hattie , 
states that while off Sitka he encountered many heavy gales, which did much damage 
to the rigging and fishing gear, but there was no snow or ice to contend with, as would 
have been the case on the North Atlantic coast at the same season. 
The schooner Bose Oleson , of Astoria, chartered by parties in Port Townsend, 
made one trip to the vicinity of Cape Scott, at the northern end of Vancouver Island, 
beginning the cruise during the first part of April. She was gone five weeks, and 
obtained a fare of 15,000 pounds. 
Cape Flattery to Grays Harbor . — The hydrographic examinations along the coast 
of Washington were begun off Cape Flattery on September 19, 1888, and were com- 
pleted in the latitude of Columbia River on the 13th of October following. Dredging 
and fishing trials were made in the same connection and also at subsequent periods. 
The first line of stations was commenced in 82 fathoms, 10 miles S., 68° W., from Cape 
Flattery light, and was carried 65 miles S., 68° W., soundings being made at intervals 
of 5 miles to develop banks reported to exist 60 and 75 miles froni the cape. The 
depths were irregular for 30 miles, then increased uniformly to 768 fathoms at the 
former and 1,239 fathoms at the latter position. The occurrence of the banks in the 
places indicated was therefore disproved. 
Three dredgings, all with the beam trawl, were made in the vicinity of Flattery 
Rocks and between there and Cape Flattery on September 20 and 24, 1888. The first 
was at station No. 2866, 19 miles S., 40° W., from Flattery light-house, 171 fathoms, 
gray sand; the second at station 2867, 17 miles S., 23° W., from Flattery light, 37 
fathoms, fine sand; the third at station 2872, 8 miles S., 40° W., from the same light- 
house, 38 fathoms, gray sand. 
Near station 2867 the halibut trawl, baited with .salt salmon, was set at 3 p. m. 
and hauled at 5 p. m., securing 8 sharks, 2 dogfish, and 1 halibut, the latter weighing 
140 pounds and measuring 5 feet 9 inches in length. A few hand lines were also tried 
in the same locality, 1 red rockfish and several dogfish being taken by that means. 
A skate of halibut trawl, baited with salt salmon and red rockfish, was likewise set in 
the position of dredging station 2872, but only 2 sharks and 1 starfish were obtained. 
In the spring the Indians fish for halibut in this locality, but no satisfactory informa- 
tion regarding their abundance there has yet been obtained. 
On September 21, 1888, the beam trawl was used at station No. 2868, off Cape 
Johnson, and station No. 2869, off Destruction Island, in depths of 31 and 32 fathoms, 
respectively, the bottom consisting of sand. At the former station tomcod, flounders, 
red rockfish, and 1 black-cod were taken in the beam trawl. A trawl line, baited 
with salt salmon and clams, was set in the same position, but very few of the baits 
were disturbed, only 2 red rockfish, 3 dogfish, and 1 skate being captured. Trial lines 
from the deck of the steamer afforded no results. 
The following June dredging operations were conducted off this part of the coast, 
to the west and southwest of Destruction Island, in depths of 178 to 877 fathoms. 
That work has been reported upon by Capt. Tanner as follows: 
. Passing Cape Flattery we steamed offshore until 7 :45 a.m., on June 28, 1889, when the trawl was 
cast in 760 fathoms (station 3069), green mud. A heavy westerly swell caused the ship to tumble 
about so much that it was difficult to carry on our work, and finally resulted in parting the bridle 
