St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-25
Commander Tanners Report
!; Of the Work of the Steam
III - err Albatross. -
Current knowledge of the
Fauna of Sea Waters Great
=. ~ Enlarged. g.
The Gulf of California SWapIis
With Fish of Good Quail - -
-
ity.
A Phenomenon of Nature Dis
covered on San Nicholas /,
- leland :
-, -: ASAesAASAs ..-

w faOulNOlONs huSs
Commander Z. l.. Tanner, of the navy,
has made an Interesting report to the
fish commission of the work of the
steamer AlbatroSs from the beginning
of the present year to June 80 last. The
commander of the .Albatross- was in
structed to cruise III the waters of the
southern part of the California coast
and in the Gulf of California for the
purpose of investigating sea life IN
those waters, and the practicability of
raising oysters. The result of the in
vestigation has been to greatly enlarge
the volume of current knowledge of
the fauna of the sea waters, and to
demonstrate that there are numerous
productive fisheries there, of which
the existence has been hitherto UNI
known. The actual work of the AL
batrOsS began Jan. 5, when the traWl
was cast in 236 fathOnS of water in the
CorteZ banks. about twelve miles from
Point Conception. Fish swarmed i'll
great numbers and variety over the
banks, which are the richest found so
fish, yellOWtail rock cod and four Speci-
mems of red rock cod took the hook
readily. San Nicholas island was found
rather barren, but here Prof. Gilbert,
the naturalist of the expedition. dis
covered
80 A PHENOMENON OF NATURE,
Generally attributed to whirl-winds) in
the shape of turnpike, perfectly
straight as far as the eye could see,
nine feet wide, crowel crowned i'll the
center, and with cutters sunk six to
eight inches. Rich hauls were made at
Beecher'S bay in about 270 fathoms of
water. The fish taken included four
species of black cod of excellent flavor,
and also the deep water sole, one of the
best sea fishes of the Pacific coast. At
Watsen's rock, party sent out from
the ship, captured more than 1000
pounds of fish in less than two hours.
Guadaloupe island and Alijo rocks were
found to be barren, but around Clarion
island fish swarmed in great numbers.
Forty-six species, of which twenty
were edible, We're taken. Sharks made
things lively also. Fourteen species Of
fish not found on Clarion island were
taken from near Socorro island, the
largest of this group. Hump-back
whales constantly ploughed their way
through the sea in full sight. Thou
vi OCtt Dildos 1ift w No
and boobies made their home on San
Benedicto.an island upon which neither
wood, water. nor even a bush could be.
seen. The Gulf of California then be-
came the objective point, and in the
vicinity of Cape San Lucas the Alba
troSS investigated reports that have long
been current of islands, rocks and reefs
in the neighborhood. Their non-exist-
ence was established by, seundings. and
it was also demonstrated! that the
islands commencing with .Guadaloupes,
and extending to Los AlijOS and the
Revilla Gigardo group are j.. 3. .g...a 3!:s.
! =; : ISOLATED TQIsGANIC.. ERyPTI0NSs l.
entirely independent of the continent,
and of one another. The gulf was en-
tered ON March, IL, and the, ground
around San Jose island was. found liter
ally covered with oyster shells alive and
dead, at depth of from ten. to twelve
fathoms. Numbers of fish were taken
in the gulf and at George island plenty
of squeteague and a species of sea bass
weighing from 80 to 100 pounds were
taken. Many sea birds and a. rOokery
of sea lions were also discovered. At
one place the fish were taken in such
numbers that the captain was obliged
to put stop to the sport. Gill-net fish
ing throughout the gulf was found to
be impracticable on account of the
sharks and dOgish. Of San Louis
island in the latter part of March sea
the last named being very wild.
Gov. Ceryantez and large number
of gentlemen who visited the ship were
greatly Surpri Sed to see the great varl-
ETY. of marine fauna witch had been
fOnnd many of which they had never
seen or heard of. Excellent oysters
were found to be plentiful off Ago
done's lagoon. about the Yaqui river.
At low tide these oysters are exposed to
view and the Indians collect them by
hand. The fishing grounds of Man-Of-
War cove and Bay of San Bartolome
did not sustain the reputation they
have. =. r'-
Investigations made by Prof, Gilbert
and Mr.. Alexander showed that no shad
existed in the Gila and Colorado rivers,
the waters having proved unadapted to
the shad planted there by the commits
sion. German carp, however, were
FOUND TO HAVE THRIvEN WELL.
Large numbers of halibut and rock
cod were found off Cape Flatlery, and
when the trawl was set in water from
475 to 760 fathoms deep many unrecog-
nized specimens of fish were taken be-
side founders, deep sea sole, Norway
haddOck. MacruSuS and hog fish, sea
shrimp, seaurchins, holothurians, ophi-
urans, star fish. sea anemones. crinoids,
penalties and hermit crabs were also
pulled up. Black cod were caught at
$50 fathOms depth, the greatest depth
in which they have been found. A fine
sandy bottom was indicated.