183 
FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
erable number of invertebrates was secured, but nothing indicating a good fishing- 
ground. 
Off Santa Barbara . — The examination of the fishing-grounds oft this place, 
conducted on February 11, 1889, was described by Gapt. Tanner as follows: 
We left our anchorage at 7 a. m. on the 11th, and, piloted hy Capt. Larco, examined a fishing- 
bank, the center of which lies E. N. (magnetic) about 3 miles from Santa Barbara light-house. It 
is about a mile in length NE. and SW., hy half a mile in width, soundings regular, with depths from 
12 to 20 fathoms, fine black sand, with frequent stony patches or spots, on which there is a live bottom. 
Another bank was examined and found to he between 2 and 3 miles in length, E. hy S. and W. hy 
N. (magnetic), and almost 1 mile in width, its center being 5 miles ESE. from the light-house. The 
soundings were regular with depths from 26 to 29 fathoms, which agreed closely with the Coast Survey 
chart, as did those on the hank previously examined. The bottom was sandy, with frequent stony 
patches, as before described. 
The stones were composed of hardened clay, filled with holes, easily crumbled in the hand, and 
strongly resembling the tosca of South American coasts. It was covered with kelp, sponges, bryo- 
zoans, and other marine growths. The lead did not give the true character of the bottom, and it was 
ascertained by dragging the trawl or tangles between stations, stony patches, some of them very 
small, being encountered every two or three ship’s lengths. Kelp was found growing on all of them, 
much of it being brought up by the trawl, the roots still adhering to their stony ballast. It seemed 
to be a young growth, as none of it reached the surface. According to Capt. Larco, these hanks 
were at one time alive with fish, hut being so near the harbor they were soon fished out, and are 
visited now only by rowboats or sailing craft too small to go to the islands. There are no indications 
of these rocky or stony patches on the Coast Survey charts. 
Later in the day, a small rocky patch, marked on the chart 4 miles south (magnetic) from the 
light-house, was partially examined, and muddy bottom, with rocks and coral patches, was found in 
from 50 to 60 fathoms. It was not known to the fishermen of Santa Barbara, hut Capt. Larco was 
confident that it was a spot on which, many years ago, an old Indian used to fill his canoe when others 
failed to catch anything on the known hanks. 
Eleven stations (2961-2971) with the beam trawl and tangles were made in the 
vicinity of the first-mentioned grounds, in depths of 20 to 31 fathoms, and three 
stations (2972-2974) outside of the last and the deeper ground, in depths of 61 to 73 
fathoms, green mud. 
Viviparous perch were the principal fishes obtained by seining on the beach at 
Santa Barbara during a visit made early in April, 1890. 
Vicinity of San Miguel Island . — Investigations were conducted in the neighbor- 
hood of Richardson Rock, and between there and San Miguel Island, on January 5, 
and again on February 8, 1889. Stations Ho. 2894 and 2895, with the dredge and 
tangles, were made on the former date, in a depth of 53 fathoms, sand and broken 
shells, about a mile and a half to the westward of the rock, but the bottom, so far as 
could be determined, was very barren. In nearly the same position a trawl line was 
set for about an hour and hand lines were also employed. Four red rockfish were 
caught upon the former, but nothing with the latter, and the baits generally remained 
untouched. 
On February 9 a line of fishing stations was occupied between Richardson Rock 
and the northern side of San Miguel Island, by way of Wilson Rock, and a party was 
sent out under the direction of Capt. Larco to investigate localities inaccessible to the 
ship. The fishing trials are thus described by Mr. Alexander: 
The first fishing was done in 44 fathoms, Richardson Rock hearing WSW. I W. (magnetic), dis- 
tant 1£ miles. Ten red rock-cod and 10 yellow-tails were caught in a few minutes’ time. The next 
berth was in 41 fathoms, Wilson Rock bearing E. by S. (magnetic) 2.3 miles distant, only one small 
