184 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
flounder being taken during a 10-minute trial. The last trial made between Richardson and Wilson 
rocks was in 36 fathoms, the latter rock bearing ESE. (magnetic), distant 1.6 miles; 4 red rock-cod 
and 3 rock bass were captured. 
From the above station the ship ran E. ■£■ S. 1.2 miles and hove to in 42 fathoms, Wilson Rock 
bearing S. by E. i E. and close to. Fifteen lines were soon over the ship’s side and fishing began. Mr. 
Larco and the writer went out in the dingey to try for fish around the rock. Seven or eight trials 
were made in depths varying from 25 to 35 fathoms, but we did not meet with as' good success as was 
expected by Mr. Larco. He had frequently anchored over the same ground where we were fishing and 
had loaded his boat in a few hours, but this was late in the season. Many trials were also made to 
the southward of the rock, where large numbers of whitefish generally feed in summer, and still our 
efforts were only poorly rewarded. The total catch was 4 red rock-cod, 3 whitefish, 1 cultus-cod, 1 
sculpin, 1 rock bass, 1 scorpion, and 1 black rock-cod. On returning to the ship we found the deck 
covered with fish. It had drifted but a few minutes when they were encountered in great abundance, 
every line hooking at once and those who particinated had keen enjoyment for 2 hours. Fishing 
began in 34 fathoms and was continued into 23 fathoms. The total number of fish taken was 555, viz : 
481 yellow-tail rockfish (Sebastodes flavidns ) , 49 red rock-cod, 1 cultus-cod, and other species. 
Yellow-tail fishing very much resembles pollock fishing on the New Eugland coast. The former 
species will invariably follow the Hues to the surface, and frequently bites at the hook just before 
reaching the ship’s side. Another peculiarity in which these fish resemble the pollock is that as soon 
as they begin to bite they swim up in the water, and more can be caught on short lines than on the 
bottom. After a few have been taken they will rise to within a few fathoms of the surface and dart 
in schools at the lines. They then immediately disappear, soon to repeat the same performance. 
On the afternoon of the same day, while on the way to Santa Barbara, three 
dredging stations were made to the northward of the eastern end of San Miguel 
Island. The first two (Nos. 2957, 2958) were only a short distance from the shore, in 
the vicinity of Prince Island, the depth being 26 fathoms and the bottom consisting 
of gray sand and rocks. The dredge and beam trawl were used and a rich bottom 
was discovered. Station No. 2959 was about 4£ miles north of this end of the island, 
in a depth of 55 fathoms, sand, mud, and broken shells. Several black- cod were taken 
in the beam trawl. 
The beam trawl and tangles were employed on January 6,1889, to the west and 
southwest of the island, at distances of about 1 to 6£ miles from shore. Station 2899 
was nearest the island, off Wyckoff Ledge, in a depth of 44 fathoms, gray sand and 
broken shells, but the net caught on some projecting rocks and was wrecked. At 
station 2897, Point Bennett, on San Miguel Island, bearing NE. by N. £ N., 3^ miles, 
197 fathoms, rocky bottom, the tangles were used and a trawl line was set for about 
an hour, securing 4 black-cod, 1 red rockfish, and 2 ratfish ( Chimcera). This and other 
similar localities along this portion of the coast may possibly offer good advantages 
for a fishery for the black-cod, but further trials are necessary to determine that fact. 
Station 2898 was near 2897, in a depth of 158 fathoms, while No. 2896 was in 376 
fathoms, yellow mud. A rich fauna was found at both of these places. 
On February 8 a beam-trawl station (No. 2956) was occupied off the southern 
entrance to San Miguel Passage, about 3J miles from the eastern end of the island of 
the same name, depth 52 fathoms, the bottom consisting of fine gray sand and rocks. 
Later, on the same day, the Albatross anchored off the southern side of the island, 
and a fishing party was rowed close inshore among the rocks and kelp, where, in a 
short time, 28 specimens of red rockfish, whitefish, and rock bass were taken. Fishing 
trials from the ship proved ineffectual. During the summer the salt-water crayfish 
(. Panulirus ) is abundant about the shores of San Miguel Island, and large numbers are 
obtained there both for bait and for the market. 
