FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 49 



known at the present time. They are also reported all along the 

 Alaska peninsula and the adjacent islands, and also in Prince William 

 Sovmd. This year the former revenue cutter Grant, which is now en- 

 gaged in halibut fishing, after towing a salmon salting outfit to Kenai, 

 in Cook Inlet, prospected for halibut between there and Rose Spit, on 

 Queen Charlotte Island, at the lower side of Dixon Entrance. Al- 

 though trawls were set frequently, practically no halibut were secured, 

 but the master of the steamer thinks that this might be due to the 

 merely temporary absence of the fish, as he found none in the vicinity 

 of Rose Spit, one of the best fishing places on the coast, upon his arrival 

 there. Mud bottom was found quite generally in Cook Inlet and the 

 Gulf of Alaska, which is considered by the fishermen an unfavorable 

 indication. 



In southeast Alaska the fish appear to be most abundant in the 

 numerous bays, sounds, and straits during the winter months. Icy, 

 Chatham, Peril, and Sumner straits and Frederick Sound are the chief 

 centers of abundance, the fishermen quite generally using Wrangell 

 Narrows as the shipping point. Indians fish considerably in Boca de 

 Quadra and the vicinity of Kah Shakes Cove, Marys Island, and the 

 mouths of Kasaan Bay and Cholmondeley Sound. In summer the 

 greater part of the fishing is carried on in Icy and Chatham straits 

 and Stephens Passage. Halibut are generally plentiful in Icy 

 Straits at all seasons. 



METHODS AND CONDITIONS« 



In summer the fish are scattered considerabl}'^, but during the win- 

 ter they school on banks in the waters noted above. In this season 

 the greater part of the year's catch is made, every available craft being 

 pressed into service. 



Dealers located at Tee Harbor, Juneau, Douglas, Scow Bay, and 

 Ketchikan handle the fish from the fishing boats. Scow Bay, which 

 is on Wrangell Narrows, about 5 miles from its head, is the principal 

 shipping point. Here are moored several large house scows and floats, 

 alongside of which the fishing boats tie up and deliver their catch, to 

 be boxed in ice for shipment and put aboard the regular steamers for 

 Seattle, which pass through the Narrows every few da3^s. The fish 

 are cleaned before being delivered at the scows, and the fishermen fur- 

 nish their own ice, wliich is secured from near-by glaciers. The dealer 

 furnishes the shooks for making the boxes. The latter will hold about 

 500 pounds of fish and cost 75 cents each to make. 



Halibut weighing over 80 pounds are usually fletched aboard the 

 vessel by the fishermen. In this process the sides are taken off in 

 two complete pieces, which are then put into bins and buried in salt 

 so that the brine will run off. It usually requires about three weeks 

 for the fish to strike properly. Half ground California salt is used in 



