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U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



All members of the scientific staff and the crew were rescued, but much 

 valuable equipment was lost, and it was impracticable to outfit 

 another vessel for the work before fall. The vessel Dorothy was 

 chartered subseciuently and a cruise from Seattle to the Portlock 

 banks was begun the latter part of October. Later a trip was made 

 to the Yakutat banks, yielding much important information. 



Public hearings were held by the commission in November and 

 December at Ketchikan, Alaska, Prince Rupert and Vancouver, 

 British Columbia, and Seattle, Wash., to place before those engaged 

 in the industry the facts learned about the fishery and to obtain a 

 full expression of their views as to what action should be taken. 

 Determination of the extent of protection required necessitates con- 

 tinued research and further observations of effects of any protective 

 measures that may be adopted. 



A nmnber of losses to the halibut fleet occurred during the year in 

 Alaska waters, in addition to that of the Scandia, mentioned above. 

 On February 12 the schooner Cape Clear struck a rock and was 

 wrecked off Langara Island ; the Venus was badly damaged in a storm 

 off Kodiak Island on February 15; the Majestic sank April 17 after 

 striking a reef north of Douglas Island during a blinding snowstorm, 

 but was subsequently raised; as the result of an explosion the Jenny 

 sank May 16 while docked at Jimeau; the WahasJi was burned at 

 Ketchikan on June 14; and the Stranger was wrecked in Rocky Pass 

 late in October. 



There were 1,365 persons engaged in the halibut industry in 1927, 

 an increase of 494 over the number reported for the preceding ^^ear, 

 and the products totaled 34,491,283 pounds, valued at $3,805,088, 

 This production represents the total catch of the Alaska halibut 

 fleet, under which designation are mcluded all American vessels 

 landing more than one-half of their catch in Alaska or British Colum- 

 bia ports rather than in the States. Heretofore the products shown 

 for the Alaska halibut industry consisted only of the landings in 

 Alaska. Of the total catch of the American halibut vessels (including 

 the Alaska and the Washington fleets), 15,052,404 pounds, valued 

 at $1,533,528, were landed in Alaska, as compared with 14,390,397 

 pounds valued at $1,622,554 in 1926, a gain of 4.6 per cent in quan- 

 tity but a decline of 5.5 per cent in value. 



Persons engaged, wages paid, and operating units, Alaska halibut industry, 1927 



