The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-09
FISH IN THE PACIFIC.
Great God Banks Off Alaska-Other
Discoveries By the Albatross.


FTom the San Francisco Examiner.
The United States fish commission steamer
Albatross is back again in San Francisco
from three months trip along the coast to
the northward. She had a successful voy-
age, scientifically, and demonstrated the ex-
istence of valuable fishing b,nks along the
Pacific coast of America. When the AL
batross left here on July last she proceeded
directly to Victoria. From there she passed
up inside of Vancouver island, and then out
across to Oonalaska. She remained among
the Aleutian islanis for some time taking
soundings and fishing.
Mr. Townsen I, the only naturalist who
went with the ship to the north, in speak
ing of the work done in Alaska,
SAID: "This territory is right in
the track of the fishermen who
cross over to the Siberian shore to fish
for cod. They pass right over these waters
without even dropping line, and yet tho
inv estigatiois of the AlbatroSs show that
there are as many, if not more, fish to be
caught off the banks near the American
shores as there are at the fishing grounds to
which they travel hundreds of miles
further to the east" New fishing grounds
were discovered all along the Alaskan
coast. The Albatross expedition sounded
and dredged on these banks and studied
the currents aud the life at the bottom of
the sea. The average depth of these banks
is probably fifty fathoms.
Nor were cod the only fish found In abun-
dance. Halibut, tomcods, pollock, and
black cod seemed to swarm on the new
banks. Naturalist Townsend is enthusiastic
on the subject of Goldfish, but the black cod,
AnOplopomd ffnbrid, is his favorite. 1t IS
found only on the Pacific coast, and is far
more palatable than any of the other varie-
ties 1t is a nice, clean-looking fish, with
out any extraordinary spines or feelers,
with only decent number of fins, plain
tail, an ordinary, uncorrugated, bonoless
head, and in fact nice, respectable fish
The superior excellence of this fish was
shown by the treatment it received at the
hands of the sailors. This fish, the natur-
alist says, will play great part in the food
supply of the future, as it is excellent and
abundant.
Among the fish taken on the trip was a
monster halibut, which meddled with one
of the 500 hooks on "a long line anchored OFF
the Straits of Fuca. This fish weighed 16S
pounds, and was tied to board and photo
graphed. Many sharks also got on this
long line. One of these was lifted on deck
with derrick to have his picture taken.
This shark is a big, fat, lazy fish, not dan
gerous, that lies in the oceans bottom and
breaks the fsherman's lines.
Near the shore in this same district seines
were set. The result was haul of salmon
SO large that the weight Of the shoal broke
the strong strands of the net Salmon
among the small islands along the Alaskan
coast were SO plentiful that they were used
as bait for Goldfish. Although the canning
companies take millions of salmon from
the rivers, the enormous shoals along the
coast are practically unmolested. Founders
are not less abundant. In one plac, they
were landed on board as rapidly as the fish
ing lines could be thrown out and taken in.
They were of q dozen different varieties,
and all as fat and fine as could be. With
nets ain illimtable number can be taken,
though in most other places they are TOO
scarce TO be fished. for alone.
The much mallgned sculpiu. which in our
bay is denounced az a bullhead or catfish,
because Of its hideous horns and its preda-
tory character, was found in great num-
bers 1t may be news TO those who angrily
throw them away when they catch them
among the rockfish that the the scuipin is
really excellent eating. Rays and skates
strangely marked and Of grotesque shape
were also found to be numerous.
A little way off the coast of Oregon and
Washington territory shrimps and prawns
were brought up by the bushel. Though
these are large and Of a fine flavor, they are
practically unknown in the markets toward
the north. No one knew they abounded in
such quantities.
All Of the tanks and jars have been filed
again. but as during the last cruise there
was only one naturalist on board. instead OF
four, as was the case during the southern
voyage, they have not yet been carefully
classified. Me-. Townsend says that he has
many now food fishes and others slowed
away in the tanks Of alcohol, but until
they are taken out to be turned over 10 the
fish commission they must remain hidden
Heretofore shell fish with an internal
skeleton have been very rare, though
biologists find the fossil remains OF many
varieties. They are known as braohiopod
shells, or lamp shells NJ my OF these Gu l.
Gus shell fish were brought up by the Alba
tross from the bottom VI the northern seas,