FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
165 
stops, causing the net to come up tail first, and practically empty. There were, however, a few pen- 
natulas, starfish, holothurians, etc., adhering to the net. Four more hauls were made during the day 
in 636, 685, 584, and 477 fathoms (stations 3070, 3071, 3072, 3073), the bottom being uniformly of green 
mud. The wind and sea increased with heavy rain squalls, making it necessary to use the small trawl 
the latter part of the day, the weather being too boisterous to handle the large one with safety. The 
results were very satisfactory and, it being practically new ground, many unrecognized specimens 
were taken besides others that were familiar, among them being several species of flounders, deep- 
sea sole, deep-water redfish (Sebastolobus ) , red rockfish, macruri, chimseras, and hagfish. Among the 
invertebrates were shrimp, hermit-crabs, annelids, sea-urchins, holothurians, ophiurans, starfish, sea- 
anemones, crinoids, pennatulas, etc. 
The weather was partially overcast on the 29th, with moderate winds and heavy westerly swells. 
Three hauls of the trawl were made in 877, 859, and 178 fathoms (stations 3074, 3075, 3076), green mud, 
with excellent results. Among the fishes recognized were the deep-water redfish, flounders, sole, 
red rockfish, and a single specimen of black-cod taken in 859 fathoms, the greatest depth in which 
they have heen found. Among the invertebrates were holothurians, sea-urchins, starfish, ophiurans, 
sea-anemones, pennatulas, hermit-crabs, shrimp, annelids, an octopus, etc., the greatest amount of 
life being found in about 200 fathoms. 
The stations occupied on the 28th and 29th extended our explorations from the shore to 877 
fathoms, and gave us a very good representation of the marine fauna occupying the various depths. 
A notable feature in the hauls made during the trip was the absence of mud in the trawl net when it 
reached the surface, although soft green mud was reported at every station. This would seem to 
indicate that the bottom was composed largely of very fine sand, rather than mud, or at least the 
absence of clay. A few whales were seen, but with this exception no surface life was observed. The 
black-footed albatross or gony and an occasional petrel were the only birds seen, except near the 
land, where gulls were plentiful. 
Beam trawl stations No. 3343 (516 fathoms) and 3344 (831 fathoms) were also made 
in the same region as the above, on September 21, 1890. 
Grays Harbor to the Columbia River . — A report of Indian origin having indicated 
the exislence of a small bank off the coast of Washington between Grays Harbor 
and Willapa Bay, a careful examination of the region was made during the progress 
of the hydrographic, work in September and October, 1888. Such a bank was discov- 
ered and its principal features have been defined $ it has been named Willapa Bank. 
It is about 20 miles long, northeast and southwest, and about 12 miles in extreme width, 
having a total area of about ltO square miles. Its eastern extremity, on which there 
is 42 fathoms, rocky bottom, lies 16 miles southwest (magnetic) from Point Chehalis, 
on the southern side of the entrance to Grays Harbor, and 23 miles W. by S. (magnetic) 
from Toke Point light-house at the northern end of Willapa Bay. The soundings are 
quite regular, but the bottom alternates in character between rocks, gray sand, and 
mud. The dredgings and trials for fish on this bank proved more successful than any 
previously made south of Gape Flattery, and there is little doubt that at the proper 
season good fishing would be found in this locality. 
On September 23, 1888, the beam trawl was used at station 2870, on the southern 
edge of the bank, in 58 fathoms, rocky bottom. A very rich fauna was discovered, 
black-cod, red rockfish, tomcod, and shrimps also being taken by this means. On a 
trawl line set in the same position 10 red rockfish, 2 black-cod, and 4 sharks were 
captured. Three red rockfish were likewise caught with hand lines from the ship at 
the same time. The last-mentioned species was the most abundant one at this season. 
Hand lines were subsequently tried for 15 minutes about 10£ miles off Cape Shoal- 
water, but without success. On the same day station 2871, with the beam trawl, was 
made about 45 miles off the entrance to Grays Harbor, in a depth of 559 fathoms, 
brown ooze, with the result of obtaining many deep-water forms. 
