Figure 30. Transferring catch statistics to 

 cards for machine processing. 



Figure 31. Unloading halibut with net sling. 



Sale of Catch 



A very large proportion of the total eateh is sold at public fish exchanges and un- 

 loaded in the major ports; sales are made to the highest bidder in an open auction. The 

 buyers bid for the listed or "hailed" trips. Halibut between 5 and 10 pounds are 

 designated in the market as "chickens", those 10 to 60 pounds as "mediums" and over 

 60 as "large". The halibut in the weight group over 80 pounds are sometimes known 

 as "whales". Weights are head-off, dressed or eviscerated (Figure 31). 



Landing Ports 



The major ports of landing are Seattle, Bellingham, Vancouver, Prince Rupert, 

 Ketchikan, Petersburg, Kodiak and Sand Point. Minor ports include Juneau, Wran- 

 gell, Pelican and Sitka. The relative importance of the ports of each area is shown 

 below, giving landings in thousands of pounds for two 5-year periods. 



Depending upon grounds fished, some vessels tend to land at their home ports, 

 while others will tend to land at ports close to the grounds fished. Others, on occasion, 

 make longer runs after balancing the costs in time against the benefits of the higher 

 prices prevailing in the more distant railhead ports such as Prince Rupert, Vancouver 

 and Seattle. 



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