192 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
At hydrographic station 1636, 45 fathoms, no fish were taken. We were possibly drifting in a little 
gully, and a slight change of position to either side might have brought us over good ground. Twenty- 
two whitefish, 11 red rockfish, and 3 fat-heads were subsequently secured in twenty minutes at hydro- 
graphic station 1639, 30 fathoms ; and 11 fat-heads, 4 yellow-tails, 1 black rockfish, and 1 scorpion 
(Scorpwna guttata) in a few minutes, at hydrographic station 1640, 11 fathoms. The last trial of the 
day was made shortly after dark at hydrographic station 1641, 51 fathoms, for the purpose of deter- 
mining the effects of darkness upon the fishing. The results seemed to prove that the fish will not 
bite after dark, as we were in a good locality and could feel the fish constantly striking against our 
leads and lines, but not a single specimen was taken on the hooks. 
Cortes Bank was found to be the most promising offshore fishing-ground on the California coast 
south of San Francisco. It has an area of 51 square miles, with depths less than 50 fathoms. The 
deeper parts of the bank have been surveyed to a slight extent only, but it is probable that good 
fishing will also be found outside of the 50-fathom limit. The shoal part of the bank is about 15 miles 
long (WNW. and ESE.), its center being in about latitude 32° 26' 30" N., longitude 119° 08' W. 
Bishop’s Rock, which reaches to within 2$ fathoms of the surface, lies in latitude 32° 25' 40" N., lon- 
gitude 119° 06' 30" W. A fishing vessel at anchor on the bank to windward of this rock would prob- 
ably find it extremely uncomfortable if caught out in a heavy gale ; but as the rock is small, a staunch 
schooner could work out by it into deep water, if not anchored too near it when the storm began. 
Previous to the investigations of the Albatross nothing was known respecting the food-fishes 
inhabiting this bank. The demand for fish along this part of the coast is so limited at present that the 
fishermen do not find it necessary to venture outside of a few headlands in search of new grounds. 
They can give but little authentic information respecting the fishing-grounds 25 to 30 miles off the 
coast. The fishing areas adjacent to San Diego and Santa Barbara are sufficient for the immediate 
requirements of those places, but with a considerable increase in population, more distant and deeper 
grounds will have to be sought for, necessitating the building of a larger and better class of fishing 
boats. Small vessels patterned after the eastern well or smack boats could make quick and safe 
passages to and from Cortes Bank. A week or a fortnight could be spent, if necessary, in obtain- 
ing a fare, and by the end of that time fish would still be iu good preservation, whereas the present 
methods compel the fishermen to market their fish daily to prevent their becoming unfit for sale. 
Twelve stations were made on and about Cortes Bank with the dredges, tangles, 
and beam trawb They are as follows: No. 2911, 60 fathoms; No. 2912, 10 fathoms; 
No. 2913, 26 fathoms; No. 2914, 26 fathoms; No. 2915, 55 fathoms; No. 2916, 93 
fathoms; No. 2917, 99 fathoms ; No. 2918, 67 fathoms; No. 2919, 984 fathoms (about 12£ 
miles southwest of Bishop Bock); No. 2920, 87 fathoms; No. 2921, 145 fathoms; No. 
2922, 47 fathoms. 
Deep-sea soundings were run from Tanner Bank to San Nicolas Island and to the 
southern end of San Clemente Island. A third line connects Cortes Bank with the 
region off Point Loma. The latter developed a series of elevations and depressions 
over which the depths varied from 211 to 1,047 fathoms. 
The following are the principal food-fishes obtained on Cortes Bank by the use of 
hand lines : 
Serranus clathratus, Rock bass. 
Stereolepis gigas, Jewfish. 
Trochocopus pulcher, Fat-head. 
Caulolatilus princeps, Whitefish. 
Ophiodon elongatus , Cultus-cod. 
Sebastodes paucispinis, Jack. 
flavidm, Yellow-tail rockfish. 
melanops, Black rockfish. 
mystinus, Black rockfish. 
Sebastodes miniatus, Vermilion rockfish. 
constellatus, Rockfish. 
rosaeeus, Corsair. 
chlorostictus, Rockfish. 
vexillaris, Rockfish. 
serriceps, Treefish. 
Scorpcena guttata, Sculpin. 
Citharichthys sordidus, Flatfish. 
