FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
193 
Vicinity of San Clemente Island. — While passing up the coast on the voyage to 
San Francisco, in May, 1888, a short stop was made in Smuggler Oove at the south- 
eastern end of San Clemente Island, but only shore collecting was attempted. Sub- 
sequently the beam trawl was hauled successfully in a depth of 414 fathoms, gray 
sand bottom, about 7 miles off the northern end of the same island (station 2839). 
The region was again visited on January 23 and 25, 1889. In the evening on the 
former date, a gill net- was set in Smuggler Cove, and was allowed to remain down 
over night, but, although a school of fish, supposed to be herring, was seen at the 
surface, nothing at all was captured. The exceeding phosphorescence of the water, 
which imparted a glow to the entire net, may have been accountable for their failure 
to mesh. On the 25th a party was landed at the southeastern end of the island, 
where they found an excellent beach for seining, although the surf was running some- 
what heavily at the time. Repeated hauls were made with the net, securing a good 
representation of the shore fishes, among which were large numbers of viviparous 
perch (Amphisticus argenteus) and a few smelts. 
Several fishermen belonging to a San Diego sloop were encamped on the island. 
They made use of hand lines, fishing in depths of 30 to 40 fathoms, and obtaining fat- 
heads, rockfish, whitefish, etc., which were split and salted. Short trawl lines were 
also employed at times, and traps were set for capturing salt-water crayfish. The 
sloop visited the island once every week or ten days and carried the catch to San 
Diego. 
Gulf of Santa Catalina and the region off San Diego. — Two lines of deep-water 
soundings, including a few dredging-stations, were run through the Gulf of Santa 
Catalina from off Point Loma, one in the direction of Point Fermin, the other extend- 
ing through che passageway between Santa Catalina and San Clemente Island. A 
third line extends from off Point Loma to Cortes Bank, as explained above. In addi- 
tion to these a number of dredging and fishing trials were made directly off San 
Diego and about Los Coronados. 
The dredging stations were distributed as follows : No. 2937, 359 fathoms, near 
the center of the Gulf of Santa Catalina; No. 2923, 822 fathoms; No. 2924, 455 fathoms; 
No. 2925, 339 fathoms; No. 2926, 69 fathoms ; No. 2929, 623 fathoms ; No. 2934, 36 fathoms; 
No. 2935, 124 fathoms, and No. 2936, 359 fathoms, off San Diego, within a maximum 
distance of 15J miles from land; No. 2930, 60 fathoms; No. 2931, 34 fathoms; No. 2932, 
20 fathoms, and No. 2933, 36 fathoms, in close proximity to Los Coronados; No. 2927, 
313 fathoms, and No. 2928, 417 fathoms, between San Diego and San Clemente Island. 
Los Coronados are located just south of the boundary line between California and 
Lower California. Important fishing-grounds exist in their immediate vicinity, and, 
lying very near to San Diego, they are much resorted to. The following account of 
investigations made in this locality on January 26, 1889, is from the report of Mr. 
Alexander : 
On the morning of January 26 investigations were begun in the vicinity of Los Coronados Islands. 
The first trial for fish was made with hand lines at hydrographic station 1706, latitude 32° 25' N., 
longitude 117° 18' W., 51 fathoms, 5 red rockfish and 1 fat-head being takeu. The next fishing was 
done at dredging station 2931, 34 fathoms, latitude 32° 25' 30" N., longitude 117° 16' 45" W., and was 
a failure. These stations were between the North and South Coronados. A small Italian fisliing boat 
was anchored close by where the last trial was made. She was on a favorite spot, but had met with 
poor success, the catch for the previous twenty-four hours having amounted to only about 50 pounds 
of red rockfish, whitefish, and fat-heads. During the summer months these species are sometimes 
very abundant. 
F. C. B., 1892—13 
