ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1924 



137 



HALIBUT 



Halibut fishing was entirely suspended late in 1924 in the North 

 Pacific Ocean by vessels of the United States and Canada, in accord- 

 ance with legislation enacted by both countries giving effect to the 

 convention of March 2, 1923, between the United States and Great 

 Britain for the protection of the halibut fishery of the North Pacific, 

 This legislation imposed a closed season of three months, beginning 

 November 16, 1924, in which the intentional catching of halibut by 

 American and Canadian vessels is .prohibited. Accordingly the 

 halibut fleet discontinued operations on November 15, and for the 

 first time in the history of Alaska this important branch of its fisheries 

 industry was at a standstill. The closed season thus provided is 

 considered necessary for the preservation of this fishery. It has 

 been accepted generally without protest or opposition by the fisher- 

 men, practically all of whom seem glad to forego the uncertain 

 profits and hazards of fishing during three months in the winter. 



In addition to the closed season imposed by law, practically the 

 entire halibut fleet was idle for three weeks in September on account 

 of the scarcity of bait. Tliis materially reduced the catch, as all 

 vessels lost at least one trip to the fishing grounds. Notwithstanding 

 this suspension of fishing, the total catch landed in Alaska was 

 15,037,616 pounds, valued at SI, 619, 443, an increase over 1923 of 

 2,864,342 pounds, or 23.5 per cent, and in value of $365,492, or 29 

 per cent. The total investment in the hahbut industry in 1924 was 

 $2,316,084, as compared with $2,336,350 in 1923. 



Persons engaged, investment, and products of the Alaska halibut fishery in 192^ 



COD 



Tn this statistical review of the cod fishery of Alaska only those 

 vessels landing their catches in the Territory are considered as -forming 

 the strictly Alaska cod fleet and included "in the investments in this 

 industry. Vessels engaged in cod fishing in Bering Sea and the North 

 Pacific Ocean are shown as the offshore cod fleet. 



