REVIEW OF CERTAIN MAJOR FISHERIES 



PACIFIC COAST HALIBUT FISHERY, 1970 



Halibut landings by the combined United States and Canadian fleets were 54.9 million 

 pounds (dressed weight) — a decline of 3.6 million compared with 1969. U.S. fishermen landed 

 25.8 million pounds (47 percent of the total) and received $9.2 million — 817,000 pounds and 

 $254,000 more than in 1969. In 1970 , the U .S. fleet operating out of Pacific coast ports numbered 

 209 vessels; In 1969 , the fleet had 183 vessels . Canadian fishermen landed 29 . 1 million pounds — 

 4.4 million less than in 1969. 



The halibut quotas set by the International Pacific Halibut Commission declined in three 

 major areas. Compared with 1969, the quota for Areas 2 and 3A was 1 million pounds less, and for 

 Area 3B, it was 500,000 pounds less. The smaller quotas set in 1970 were: Area 2, 20 million 

 pounds; Area 3A, 30 million; and Area 3B, 3 million pounds. In Areas 2 and 3A the season opened 

 on April 25, 12 days earlier than in 1969. The quota was reached in both areas by September 21, 

 3 weeks before the mandatory closing date of October 15. Area 3B opened April 1 and closed April 

 6, but reopened April 25 and closed September 30. Areas 3C, 4C, and 4D opened March 17. Area 

 4C closed April 11, but Areas 3C and 4D remained open until November 15. Areas 4A and 43 opened 

 March 22 and closed April 4. Area 4B, however, reopened from September 1 through September 14. 



Data on the landings of halibut in the following tables represent the dressed weight of the 

 fish, i.e., the weight by which the quota is determined. The dressed weight of halibut can be 

 converted to round weight by multiplying by 1.33. Halibut landed in Canada by vessels of United 

 States registry are credited to Alaska. 



SUMMARY OF U.S. HALIBUT FLEET OPERATING UNITS, 1970 



J/ DOES NOT INCLUDE TROLLERS OR OTHER BOATS CATCHING HALIBUT INCIDENTAL TO OTHER FISHING OPERATIONS. 



NOTE:— UNITED STATES VESSELS LANDING HALIBUT AT PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, HAVE BEEN INCLUDED WITH THOSE 



LANDING IN ALASKA. 



LANDINGS BY U.S. HALIBUT FLEET, 1970 



NOTE:— IN ADDITION THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000 POUNDS OF "NORTHERN" HALIBUT LANDED IN CALIFORNIA. MOST OF 

 THIS CATCH WAS INCLUDED UNDER "CALIFORNIA HALIBUT" AND "UNCLASSIFIED FLOUNDERS". THE QUANTITIES SHOWN ABOVE 

 REPRESENT DRESSED WEIGHT OF FISH. TO CONVERT TO ROUND WEIGHT, MULTIPLY THE WEIGHT OF HALIBUT BY 1.33 AND OTHER 

 SPECIES BY 1 .43. 



