PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERIES 17 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



In the report by Dr. B. W. Everninnu on the Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries 

 in 1913 (Bureau of Fisheries, Doc. No. Y97, Washington, 1914) it is pointed out that 

 " the commercial value of the halibut fishery of the Pacific now greatly exceeds that of 

 the Atlantic, and in Alaska, as in British Columbia, it is second in importance only 

 to the salmon fishery." Dr. Evermann adds the following statement : " It is believed 

 to be a safe estimate that for every halibut caught at least one other fish of more or less 

 value as food is taken from the hooks. With those rare exceptions when black cod are 

 retained, all these fish are thrown back into the sea, either dead or soon to perish. 

 Except in so far as they may become food for other species, they may be regarded as a 

 total economic loss. The most abundant are the red rockfishes and the black cod, with 

 the former [" red cod "] predominating in number when all grounds are considered. 

 True cod are found in largest numbers where the depletion of halibut is most pro- 

 nounced; and deep-sea soles, flounders, and skates are most numerous on a muddy 

 bottom. It is certain that the total quantity of these fishes at present wasted is 

 enormous in the aggregate; in weight it is probably at least one-half that of the halibut 

 itself. That such a situation should not long be allowed to continue is obvious." 



The state of things depicted in the above quotation has been referred to incidentally 

 in the pages of this report. The remedy, if one can be found, would seem to lie in the 

 direct encouragement of the companies by Government to take measures to divert thf 

 hitherto rejected food-fishes into more profitable channels. 



3Sa— 2 



