138 EEPQRT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES, 



in the fishery 13 vessels, carrying- 107 men and 52 boys. The stations 

 employed 86 men. 



A few years ago a number of the cod stations were closed and held 

 in reserve, being considered too expensive to operate, and, besides, 

 the fish on adjacent grounds were said to be growing scarce. Since 

 that time these stations have been reopened and a few others have 

 been established, but it is now claimed that cod are becoming scarce on 

 the grounds in the vicinity of Pirate Cove as compared with former 

 years, and the closing of the station for a year or two is being consid- 

 ered. The station situated near the southern entrance of False Pass, 

 suspended for a number of years, Avas operated in the season of 1903. 



It is learned that fishing on Slime Bank, at one time a most prolific 

 source, has l)een practically abandoned, because, according to fisher- 

 men, this ground has l>een '' lishod out." Port Moller and banks 

 lying farther to the eastward are now the scene of operations. 



Previous to 1892 the cod fishery of the Pacific coast was conducted 

 from San Francisco. In that year Capt. J. A. Matherson, of Ana- 

 cortes, Wash., formerly of Provincetown, Mass., fitted out the schooner 

 Lhzie Colhy for a cod-fishing trij) to the Bering Sea, and, the first 

 voyage proving a success, since that time has made annual trips to 

 that region. Up to 1903, however, when she landed at Anacortes 

 360,000 pounds of cod, valued at $10,800, this vessel was the only one 

 on Puget Sound engaged in the cod fishery. In that year two other 

 vessels fitted out at Seattle for Alaska, returning with about 400,000 

 pounds of fish. One of these vessels obtained her fare in Bering Sea, 

 the other in tiie vicinit}^ of Sanak Island. Another company has 

 recently been formed, with headquarters at Anacortes, and has a fleet 

 of four vessels. It is expected that some of these will fish in Bering 

 Sea during the season of 1901. 



It will thus be seen that the cod fishery of the Pacific coast is rapidly 

 growing. The method of preparing the salted product is practically 

 the same as that followed on the Atlantic coast, the fish undergoing 

 about the same kind of treatment. The artificial drying of cod is car- 

 ried on to some extent at San Francisco, machines for that purpose 

 having recently been introduced. From the fact that new firms are 

 being established along the coast, it may be inferred that there is an 

 increase in the demand for the Pacific cod. 



THE HxVLIBUT FISHERY OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



In 1887 the halibut fishery of the Pacific coast began to attract the 

 attention of New England fishermen, and soon afterwards a number of 

 vessels from Gloucester, Mass., started around Cape Horn for Puget 

 Sound. On reaching their destination the}" fitted out at Seattle and 

 PortTownsend for the unexplored fishing grounds of southeast Alaska 

 and British Columbia. Several trips of fletched halibut were secured. 



