298 WU. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
point of production, the gain appears to have come about, in part 
at least, through more intensive fishing and by reason of increased 
operations on farther distant and previously less exploited banks, 
notably in the Kodiak region and northeastward toward Cape St. 
Elias. Grounds to the westward of Kodiak, as far as the Shumagins, 
may soon be the scene of more active halibut fishing, particularly as 
the average catch per skate of gear grows less in waters longer 
fished and closer to ports of delivery. It is probable that an in- 
creased number of vessels will be equipped for these more extended 
operations. 
The annual closed season of three months on halibut, from Nov- 
ember 16 to February 15 (as required by the North Pacific halibut 
treaty, which first became effective in the fall of 1924), has continued 
to meet with widespread approval, Jt appears to be a highly con- 
structive conservation measure and beneficial from every angle of 
consideration. 
The International Fisheries Commission continued in 1926 its 
scientific investigation of the Pacific halibut fishery. This impor- 
tant work is under the immediate direction of Will F. Thompson, 
who for years has been prominently indentified with this and other 
marine biological inquiries. The work is progressing satisfactorily 
and has resulted in securing much valuable data. Extensive field 
activities were conducted by a number of scientific assistants, and 
laboratory work was carried on at the commission’s headquarters 
at the University of Washington in Seattle. The halibut vessel 
Scandia (79 tons) was chartered and made several important cruises 
from Seattle to British Columbia and Alaskan waters. An impor- 
tant feature of the field work was the tagging and releasing of 
several thousand halibut to determine the extent of their migrations. 
Other of the more important lines which the investigation is taking 
include a study of spawning habits, rates of growth, and racial char- 
acteristics, as well as experiments to determine the effectiveness of 
various kinds of gear, particularly different sizes of hooks, and the 
compilation and study of statistical records. Preliminary find- 
ings already have been of great value, and further results of much 
importance will follow. 
Only landings at Alaskan ports are shown in the statistics for 
the Alaska halibut industry, and hence do not represent the entire 
catch from the banks off the coast of Alaska, as a large portion of 
the landings at ports in British Columbia, as well as at Seattle, come 
from those waters. The landings in Alaska totaled 14,390,397 
pounds, valued at $1 622,554, an increase of 3,418,746 pounds and 
$738,171 over 1925, or 31 per cent in quantity and 83 per cent in 
value. The total investment in the halibut industry in 1926 was 
$3,545,755, as compared with $3,503,921 in 1925. Persons engaged in 
the fishery in 1926 numbered S71, an increase of 10 over the preceding 
year. 
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