172 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
ascidians, etc. In this respect the region presents every requisite for an excellent 
fishing-bank, which it will undoubtedly prove to be when it has been more thoroughly 
developed. 
Fishing operations were actively carried on during each visit, by means of the 
beam trawl where possible, and with trawl lines and hand lines, the latter being gen- 
erally employed and with the best success. The variety of food-fishes obtained was 
quite large, including halibut, black-cod, cultus-cod, sea trout, whiting, red rockfish, 
and several other species of the latter group. 
On October 19, 1888, the catch was small, containing only 1 halibut, weighing 
10£ pounds, in addition to several specimens of rockfish and black-cod, 1 shark and 
1 dogfish. Stations 2886, 2887, 2888, 2889, and 2890 were made on this day, the last 
one being off the southern end of the bank, in a depth of 277 fathoms. 
During the morning of June 8, 1889, a trawl line baited with fresh rockfish and salt 
herring was set for something over two hours in the position of stations 3050, 3051, and 
3052, 46 to 48 fathoms, rough rocky bottom, the tide running strongly ebb toward the 
southeast. Eleven red rockfish, 1 orange rockfish and 1 sea trout were taken by this 
means, while with hand lines from the ship the catch was much larger, consisting of 
26 red rockfish, 2 orange rockfish, 4 yellow- tails, and 1 cultus-cod. In the afternoon of 
the same day three small boats were lowered to test the bottom with hand lines in as 
many places at the same time. They were anchored within half a mile of each other, 
in a depth of about 43 fathoms, and at the end of an hour had secured 22 red rockfish, 
weighing 192 pounds. Twelve additional specimens were captured from the deck of 
the Albatross during the same interval with the aid of only three lines. Just before 
sunset, a trial with 11 lines was made at station 3054, depth 53 fathoms, rocky bottom, 
on the northern part of the bank, but only 1 yellow-tail was caught. The trials made 
during this day seemed to indicate that better results could be obtained with the hand 
lines by drifting than by anchoring, the fish apparently congregating on detached 
rocky spots. Good fishing would continue for a time and then suddenly cease, making 
it necessary to seek a new ground. 
September 1, 1889, was a clear day with comparatively smooth sea, and thereby 
offered an excellent opportunity for continuing the work. Much time was spent in 
attempting to determine the area of the shoaler part of the bank, between depths of 
41 and 50 fathoms. It was found to be very limited. The beam trawl and tangles 
were used successfully at stations 3078 and 3079, the former in 68 fathoms, muddy 
bottom, the latter in 55 fathoms, rocky bottom. Hand-line fishing was carried on at 
different times during the day, both from the ship and from small boats, with varying 
results, only a few fish being taken in some places, while at others, often close at hand, 
the catch would be large. The best success was met with in 52 fathoms, rocky bottom, 
where 24 specimens of the red and orange rockfish ( Sebastodes ruber and pinniger) were 
obtained. 
The only halibut taken by the Albatross on Heceta Bank was captured in the fall 
of 1888, and weighed 10J pounds. Mr. Alexander states, however, that the schooner 
George H. Chance , of Portland, Oregon, anchored on the southern part of this bank in 
the evening of August 7, 1889, and in the course of a short time had captured several 
small individuals of this species. On a trawl line set over night the heads of 11 halibut 
were found the next morning, the bodies, apparently, having been destroyed by sharks 
and dogfish. The trip was finally abandoned owingto the annoyance caused by these 
pests. Further investigations are required to determine the value of Heceta Bank for 
