174 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
CALIFORNIA. 
NORTHERN BOUNDARY LINE TO POINT REYES. 
Boundary line to Point Arena . — On October 12 to 14, 1889, the investigations 
which had previously been conducted on the coast of Oregon were continued down the 
coast of California as far as Cape Mendocino. Operations, however, were entirely 
restricted to sounding, with the object of defining the contour of the bottom on the 
continental platform from the shore line into depths of about 200 fathoms. In Sep 
tember, 1890, on the return trip from Alaska to San Francisco, the sounding work 
was resumed off Cape Mendocino and was carried thence southward as far as Point 
Arena. A line of five stations with the beam trawl (Nos. 3348-3352), begun off Point 
Arena, in a depth of 455 fathoms, was extended inshore just to the north of this point, 
but no trials either with hand lines or trawl lines were made within these limits. 
The continental platform is relatively narrow along this entire stretch of coast. 
Off' Point St. George, near Crescent City, it has a width, within the 200-fathom curve, 
of about 9 miles. Off Klamath River this width increases to 17 miles, but it becomes 
reduced again to 8 miles at Trinidad Head, and is very much less at Cape Mendocino. 
In the vicinity of Point Arena the platform attains a maximum width of 10 to 12 
miles. There are no fishing-banks, properly so called, in any part of this region, but 
the usual coast fishes will undoubtedly be found in spots along the shore. The beam 
trawl may be used in the neighborhood of Point Arena, but there are some rocky 
places to be avoided. The captain of the steam fishing schooner George H. Chance , of 
Portland, Oregon, reports the capture of several halibut close to Cape Mendocino, in 
a depth of 40 fathoms. It is not probable, however, that this species can be taken 
there in paying quantities. 
Point Arena to Point Beyes . — This region was examined between March 24 and 29, 
1890, sounding work chiefly being carried on. As before mentioned, the 200-fathom 
curve is about 12 miles from shore at Point Arena, whence it follows the direction of 
the coast line as far as Salt Point. From this point, however, the platform broadens 
out, attaining a width of 20 miles off Russian River, of 26 miles off Tomales Point, 
and of 21 miles off Point Reyes. The bottom is smooth and is composed of alter- 
nating stretches of black sand and mud, the latter almost invariably occupying the 
slope between 100 and 200 fathoms. Stony patches also occur occasionally, usually 
between depths of 40 and 70 fathoms. 
The beam trawl was used at only five stations north of Point Reyes. Stations 
3171 and 3172 were off Russian River, in depths of 76 and 62 fathoms, respectively, the 
former on sandy and rocky, the latter on sandy bottom. The remaining positions 
were as follows: No. 3173, about 7 miles west of Bodega Head, 62 fathoms, mud; No. 
3174, about 8 miles southwesterly from the same head, 65 fathoms, green mud; No. 
3175, 11£ miles northwesterly from Point Reyes, 57 fathoms, brown mud. The bottom 
was found to be especially rich in the various species of flatfishes which belong to 
this coast, and several other edible kinds were also taken with them. 
The Italian and Greek fishermen of San Francisco operate during the entire year 
as far north as Point Arena. They fish mainly with hand lines in depths of 10 to 30 
fathoms, or within 2 to 3 miles of the shore, and as good fares are generally obtained 
in these positions they seldom venture into deeper water. The principal species taken 
