A wide-field multicolor survey for high-redshift quasars, Z above 2.2. II - The quasar catalog

In a wide-field multicolor survey (45.7 deg^2^, 16.0 <= m_or_<= 20.0) we have discovered 130 new quasars, of which 100 are of redshift z >= 2.2. There are 49 new quasars of redshift z >= 3.0 including three of z>= 4.0. We provide spectra, coordinates, redshifts, broad-band magnitudes (u, b_j_,v, or, r, i), line-equivalent widths for Lyman-α/ Nv and C IV, FWHM C IV, and continuum spectral indices for all the new quasars. The sample includes 96 quasars selected according to the rigid criteria detailed in the companion paper by Warren, Hewett, Irwin, and Osmer. These are combined with 14 previously known quasars in one of our fields, which also meet these selection criteria, to form a complete sample. The median equivalent width for Lyman-α/N V for the complete sample is 67 A, and for C IV is 31 A. The median FWHM C IV is 35 A and the median spectral index is α = -0.60. The complete sample contains at least five broad absorption-line quasars. We have obtained spectra of a total of 473 multicolor-selected candidates. The proportion of quasars found, including previously-known quasars, of all redshifts, is 30%. The proportion of quasars of redshift z>= 2.2 in the list of candidates that satisfy the selection criteria of the complete sample is 43%. Finally we limit the sample to the 85 objects of redshift z>= 2.2 in the complete sample, and summarize the relevant observational data input to the calculation of the luminosity function, comprising the redshift versus magnitude distribution and the distribution of the spectral properties. The analysis of the luminosity function will be presented in a forthcoming paper.