FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
179 
Monterey Bay and vicinity . — Monterey Bay has an extreme length, north and 
south, of about 22 miles, and is open to the ocean for nearly this entire distance. The 
greater part of the bay has depths less than 100 fathoms, but directly off the mouth 
of Salinas River begins a deep trough or valley, which extends westward, with irreg 
ular margins at the 100-fathom line, and widens somewhat rapidly until it opens into 
the deeper parts of the adjacent ocean. A maximum depth of something over 400 
fathoms is found within the limits of the bay. 
Two visits were paid to Monterey Bay by the steamer Albatross , the first between 
March 12 and 15, the second on April 10 and 11, 1890, and much sounding and dredg- 
ing work was accomplished. A continuous series of dredging stations, outside of 
the limits of the bay, was run in a curved line from off Sand Hill Bluff, in the north 
(latitude 36° 57' N., longitude 122° 10' W.), to off Point Pinos, in the south, as fol- 
lows: Ho. 3123, 37 fathoms; No. 3125, 65 fathoms; No. 3146, 62 fathoms; No. 3126, 
456 fathoms; No. 3127,418 fathoms; No. 3128, 627 fathoms, and No. 3129, 204 fathoms. 
Stations 3124 and 3136 to 3144, inclusive, were in the northern part of the bay, on a 
small bank off Santa Cruz and in the region adjacent to it; stations 3130 to 3135, 
inclusive, and 3145 were in different parts of the bay, in depths of 9 to 56 fathoms; and 
3202 and 3203 in the submarine valley off the Salinas River, in depths of 382 and 138 
fathoms, respectively. 
This bay is regarded as one of the most productive fishing-grounds on the coast 
of California, but during the winter of 1889-90, when these investigations were made, 
fishes of all kinds were unusually scarce, owing, it is supposed, to the phenomenal 
rainfall which had taken place. Within 24 hours after a heavy, rain the surface 
becomes covered with muddy water, which is said to have the effect of driving the fishes 
from the shallow grounds, and continued stormy weather has a tendency to keep them 
from such places. 
The small bank off Santa Cruz, above referred to, is a rocky ground, the center of 
which lies about 2 miles SSW. from the light house. It has an area of about 14 
square miles, the depths ranging from 8 to 20 fathoms. The Coast Survey chart gave 
no indication of the rocky bottom, and the attention of the Albatross was attracted 
to it by the number of boats engaged in fishing there. The bank is resorted to both 
summer and winter. During the latter season the Monterey fishermen work mainly on 
grounds in the southern part of the bay near the entrance. Drag seines and gill nets 
are also employed on the smooth bottoms and sandy beaches throughout the region. 
Fishing operations were diligently prosecuted by the Albatross during both visits, 
the trials being made chiefly with the beam trawl, seines, and hand lines. The tabular 
list of fishes given previously belongs also in part to this region, especially the outer 
or more exposed portion. Along the beaches perch and smelts were secured in large 
quantities by means of the drag seine. A small striped bass ( Boccus lineatus) was 
also taken in the same manner, this being the most southern locality from which it 
has so far been recorded. It is not native to California, but has been introduced from 
the Atlantic coast. Gill nets and a trawl line were set about 1J miles from the harbor 
anchorage at Monterey, one barracuda being captured in the former but nothing in 
the latter. The winter fishing- grounds are some 5 or 6 miles farther offshore, but, 
during fine weather red rockfish are frequently caught close to the head of the bay. 
