PENETRATING THE ZONE OF AVOIDANCE .4. AN OPTICAL SURVEY FOR HIDDEN GALAXIES IN THE REGION N-OR-EQUAL-TO-L-LESS-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-180-DEGREES, HAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-B-LESS-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-DEGREES(5)

As the fourth part in a series of papers on galaxies in the ''zone of avoidance'' (ZOA) of the Milky Way we present a compilation of 1067 ga laxies discovered during a systematic search on Palomar Observatory Sk y Survey I (POSSI) red-sensitive prints. The region searched comprises 500 square degrees, at 130 degrees less than or equal to l less than or equal to 180 degrees, -5 degrees less than or equal to b less than or equal to +5 degrees. In addition to galactic and equatorial coordin ates, we list maximum and minimum optical diameters derived from both the red-and blue-sensitive prints and made cross checks with the IRAS PSC catalogue. An asymmetric distribution of the galaxies with respect to the galactic equator is found and is compared to the locations of optically visible dust clouds and/or the distribution of IR-emitting d ust material. There is a pronounced bridge of galaxies across the gala ctic plane at l approximate to 160 degrees which will be discussed acc ording to recent results on the extension of the Pisces-Perseus superc luster.