FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
175 
are the red rockfish, which are especially abundant off Bodega Head, Tomales Point, 
and Point Reyes. Cultus-cod of extra large size are also found off the latter point. 
Fishing is carried on in Tomales Bay and Bodega Bay throughout the year. 
From 30 to 40 fishermen restrict their operations exclusively to the former bay, using 
drag seines and trammel nets. Their catch is shipped to San Francisco by rail. The 
species secured here are red rockfish, perch, flounders, smelts, sea bass, herring, and 
anchovies. Hand lines and drag seines are employed in Bodega Bay, in which the 
catch consists chiefly of red rockfish, tomcod, and flounders. 
POINT REYES TO POINT CONCEPTION. 
Point Reyes to Monterey Bay . — Fishing and dredging operations were actively 
prosecuted by the Albatross on this part of the California coast between March 10 and 
April 13, 1890, affording very satisfactory results of a preliminary nature. As the 
contour and character of the bottom had been pretty thoroughly determined by pre- 
vious surveys, the sounding work was mainly limited to special places in connection 
with the fishing and dredging trials, and to locating with greater care the positions of 
the 100 and 200 fathom curves along the outer border of the platform. Just north of 
the latitude of Point Reyes these curves bend abruptly outwards to include Cordell 
Bank and the Farallon Islands. The 200-fathom curve lies 21 miles off Point Reyes, 
and maintains about the same distance from the coast line until south of Pillar Point, 
passing within about 3 miles of Noonday Rock, 4 miles of the North Farallones, and 
5 miles of the South Farallon. From about 25 miles off Pillar Point, however, the 
curve approaches to within 16 miles of Pigeon Point, bends abruptly inward at Point 
Ano Nuevo, and at El J arrow Point is only 8 miles from shore, retaining the same 
distance until off Santa Cruz in Monterey Bay. 
This broad stretch of platform presents a generally uniform character of bottom. 
Between the Golden Gate, Pillar Point, the Farallones, and Point Reyes the bottom 
is sandy and free from rocks and stony patches, except in the immediate vicinity of 
the islands and of the shore line. Southward from Pillar Point rocky patches are 
frequently found near the shore, with fine gray sand farther off, finally merging into 
green mud at varying distances from land. Stony patches, apparently the result of 
drift, also occur between depths of 30 and 70 fathoms, on sandy or muddy bottom. 
The green mud has a stroug odor which is occasionally offensive. 
In view of the relatively short time spent in this region, it maybe considered that 
the bottom was quite thoroughly tested with respect to its fishery resources, the beam 
trawl and hand lines being used for this purpose; but observations at other seasons 
would greatly increase the value of the results. Between the region off Point Reyes 
and the latitude of Pillar Point 26 dredging stations were made beside those on the 
defined banks which are elsewhere referred to. Twenty- four of these stations (Nos. 
3099-3101, 3103, 3150-3157, 3163-3167, 3176-3182) were inside of the 100-fathom 
curve, while two (Nos. 3161 and 3162) were in depths of 191 and 552 fathoms. From 
the latitude of Pillar Point to the entrance to Monterey Bay 19 stations (Nos. 3106- 
3111, 3113-3122, 3147-3149) were occupied in depths less than 100 fathoms, and 9 
stations (Nos. 3104, 3105, 3112, 3204-3209) in depths of 108 to 391 fathoms. 
Some parts of the bottom were found to be much richer in life than others, and 
muddy depressions occur on which no food-fishes were obtained. As a result of the 
