200 HISTOEY AND METHODS OF THE FISHEEIES. 



Atlantic, but a prettier, weaker relative, greatly loved and grievously persecuted by the cod. No 

 one has yet recorded the existence of a haddock (Melanogrammus), hake (Phycis), or of a cusk 

 (Brosmius), in Alaskan waters. The only members of the cod family definitely known are the true 

 cod (Gadus morrhua), the torn-cod (Microgadus proximus), the polar cod (Borcogadvs saida), the 

 " wachna" (Tilesia gracilis), and the pollock (Pollachius clialcogrammus). Wherever the true cod is 

 found occurs also the halibut (Hippoglossus vuJgaris), the same species as that of the Atlantic. 

 These two prime fish are associated ; they come almost to the doors of the fishermen, and are 

 present now around the shores of Alaska in the profusion which attended the infancy of the Cape 

 Cod fishery. 



DISTRIBUTION. The cod seems to be entirely unknown as far south as San Diego, Cal. 

 A circular sent by the chief of the Bureau of Statistics to Mr. W. W. Bowers, collector of customs 

 at San Diego, elicited the following response: "I referred the circular to Dr. G. W. Barnes, the 

 president of a society of natural history, and to various fishermen, but cannot ascertain that the 

 codfish is known to exist in any of the waters adjacent to this port." 



J. L. McDonald, in a book entitled " Hidden Treasures, or Fisheries around the Northwest 

 Coast," states that "cod are taken in very limited numbers off the Farallones; they are lean and 

 very poor and resemble the jaundiced cod on the Grand Bank." 



The same author writes: "On the Heceta bank, NNW. fiom Cape Orford, Oregon, cod are 

 found. The Indians residing on that coast report this fish as quite abundant in the summer 

 months, and (they) are said to be large, solid, and delicious." 



James G. Swan, in a report on the food-fishes of Cape Flattery, Washington Territory, informs 

 us that "the cod of the North Pacific is not found in abundance at Cape Flattery; occasionally it 

 is brought in, but it is by no means common. It seems to inhabit the deep water of Fuca Strait^ 

 and for that reason is seldom fished for, except occasionally some of the older fishermen will try 

 during very fine weather to take fish in 80 fathoms. Further up the sound and in Hood's Canal 

 and a few other localities the Gadus is taken, but it is small, evidently a young fish. Although ite 

 existence is well known to residents on Puget Sound, it is not taken in sufficient quantities to be 

 relied on as a food-fish." Professors Jordan and Gilbert brought from Puget Sound specimens of 

 the species, some of which have recently been distributed by the U. S. National Museum. 



Mr. H. A. Webster, collector of customs at Port Townsend, Washington Territory, communi- 

 cates the following information : " The cod, I believe, is always present in the waters of Fuca Strait 

 and Puget Sound, but in such limited quantities that catching has not been pursued as a business, 

 and the knowledge of [its] habits is very limited. Young cod, about the size of shad, have been 

 somewhat abundant in Puget Sound during the winter mouths; cod weighing from four to six 

 pounds have been taken during the summer mouths by Indians at Nee-ah-Bay. * * * The 

 presence of small cod in the winter months in Puget Sound and at the mouth of the Strait of Fuca 

 is an indication that large quantities may be found in the neighborhood of Cape Flattery say 

 west of Tahosh light and south from Vancouver Island. * * * No efficient search has been 

 made off the coast of Washington Territory for this valuable fish." 



To the cod fleet of 1866 British Columbia added two or three small schooners which were fitted 

 out at Victoria. These vessels fished on grounds immediately north of Naas Eiver, where they 

 reported numerous banks as well as farther to the northward. At the same time cod were caught 

 in Barclay Sound and brought to the Victoria market. 



At Sitka, Indians brought a few cod to our vessel in June, 1880. The cod were reported 

 abundant and readily caught, but the halibut, the many fine " bass" (several species of Selastichthys), 

 and the " rockfish" (various species of Rexagrammus) seemed to have greater popularity. Mr. A. 



