BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 315 



season has, however, been a marked exception to the general rule, and 

 the fact of the abundance of halibut at that point during the present 

 year is all the more remarkable, inasmuch as when the schools have 

 been broken up on other fishing grounds, or the fish forced to leave 

 their favorite resorts during a portion of the year, they rarely return 

 to stay in such abundance. From early in June until late in October 

 the species has occurred in almost unprecedented numbers off the 

 southern part of Green Bank in depths ranging from 100 to 250 fathoms ; 

 whereas, in former years, even when halibut have been most plentiful, 

 a dearth has usually occurred on all the halibut grounds in the latter 

 part of September and in October and November. During those 

 months, however, of this year (1882) wonderful catches have been 

 made, several fares of from 40,000 to 75,000 pounds having arrived at 

 Gloucester. The following are a few of the many instances of large 

 captures made on Green Bank during this season : One of the first 

 fares to arrive from that locality — possibly the first — was brought in 

 by the schooner Isaac A. Chapman, which reached Gloucester on June 

 25, 1882. She had on board above 80,000 pounds, four-fifths of which 

 were " white." The following detailed account of the amount and value 

 of her fare appeared in the Cape Ann Advertiser of June 30, 1882 : 



" Schooner Isaac A. Chapman, Capt. Augustus G. Hall, arrived from 

 a Grand Bank trip on Sunday, bringing in 81,000 pounds of halibut and 

 5,000 pounds of codfish, stocking $4,303.66, the crew sharing $145.30. 

 She was absent nineteen days, of which time two days were spent in 

 Nova Scotia ports waiting for bait." 



Captain Hall told me that these fish were caught at a depth of 112 

 fathoms in latitude 45° 04' north, longitude 54° 59' west. He fished for 

 eight days altogether, during the first two of which he was in shoaler 

 water, and caught only 4,500 pounds of halibut, so that 76,000 pounds 

 were taken in sis days. 



September 11 the schooner Gertie E. Foster arrived home from 

 Green Bank, bringing in a fare of 78,625 pounds of halibut. Captain 

 Olseu, who commanded her, told me that he had made several unsuc- 

 cessful attempts to catch halibut on the Western Bank and Banque- 

 reau. 



On the 4th of October the schooner Willie M. Stevens arrived with 

 about 80,000 pounds of halibut, caught near Green Bank at a depth of 

 250 fathoms. The vessel, however, lay anchored in 220 fathoms, her 

 position, according to Captain Mclnnis, being latitude 44° 58' north, 

 longitude 54° 33' west. 



A few days later the schooner Grace L. Fears arrived with a "big 

 trip," caught near the same locality, the following notice of which was 

 published in the Cape Ann Advertiser of October 13, 1882 : " Schooner 

 Grace L. Fears arrived from a Bank trip on Monday (October 0) with 

 70,220 pounds fresh halibut, which were sold to the Atlantic Halibut 

 Company for $3,606.61, her crew sharing $119.39." 



