182 
BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
the eastern end of the ehannel with depths less than 100 fathoms. On the southern 
side the same curve approaches within about 5 miles of the nearest point, of San 
Miguel Island (Harris Point), somewhat closer to the corresponding projection on 
Santa Eosa, and within 3 miles and less of Santa Cruz and Anacapa. South of this 
group the distances are somewhat less, the 100-fathom curve lying from 2| to 44 
miles off San Miguel, and about 2 miles off Santa Eosa and Santa Cruz, with some 
exceptions to be explained below. 
In the western half of Santa Barbara Channel the area of deep water (exceeding 
100 fathoms) has, therefore, a relatively great width, occupying in the main about two- 
thirds of the entire breadth of the channel; but at the eastern end it becomes reduced 
in places to less than one-fourth the breadth. The bottom consists chiefly of mud, 
and this same material extends more or less into shoaler water. The greatest depth 
recorded is 366 fathoms, about midway of the channel. 
Several dredgings with the beam trawl have served to indicate the principal 
features of this deeper area. Station 2840 was made during the voyage to San 
Francisco in the spring of 1888, and was north of San Miguel Passage, in a depth 
of 276 fathoms, the bottom consisting of green mud. The season of 1889 was begun 
at station 2891, about 12 miles west of Point Conception, where 1 black-cod, 7 
red rockfish, and an abundance of deep-sea soles, together with two specimens of 
octopus, were obtained in 233 fathoms, mud bottom. Stations 2892 and 2893 were 
directly in the western entrance of the channel, in depths of 284 and 145 fathoms, 
respectively, yellow mud and fine gray sand and mud. Five other stations in the 
deeper water were subsequently occupied during the same season, as follows: No. 
2903 (322 fathoms), No. 2904 (314 fathoms), and No. 2909 (205 fathoms), north of Santa 
Eosa Island; No. 2910, off Goleta Point, 229 fathoms; No. 2960, north of San Miguel 
Passage, 267 fathoms. Comparatively little life was discovered on the bottom at any 
of these positions, but at station 2960 several black-cod were secured. 
In April, 1890, four stations (3198-3201) were made through the center of the 
channel from off Point Conception to off Goleta Point, in depths of 233 to 280 fathoms, 
green mud. 
No surface organisms were taken in this region. Eegarding this subject Capt. 
Tanner states: 
The total absence of life on the surface was notable, and it would seem that the season alone is 
not sufficient to account for it. The presence of petroleum, which may usually he seen forming a 
thin film over the surface waters of the channel, may have something to do with it. 
Mr. Alexander describes the oil as sometimes occurring in small patches, and at 
others covering large areas, in the region off Santa Barbara light, at a few miles from 
shore. .Its prevalence, he thinks, u probably prevents migratory fishes from schooling 
in this part of the channel, and possibly may tend to influence their movements over 
a considerable distance both up and down the channel.” It is not unlikely that the 
barrenness of much of the bottom may also be due to this cause. 
Vicinity of Point Conception . — On January 8, 1889, a trawl line was set in 20 
fathoms of water, rocky bottom, about 7 miles east of Point Conception, hand lines 
also being used from the ship and from a small boat at the same time, but no fishes of 
any kind were taken. Four stations (2905-2908) with the beam trawl and tangles 
were then made in a short line running off from this position, the depths ranging from 
31 to 96 fathoms, and the bottom being exceedingly variable in character. A consid- 
