60 FISHERY AND FUR INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA IN 1912, 



Products op the Alaska Herring Fisheries in 1912. 



HALIBUT FISHERY. 



GENERAL CONDITIONS. 



The halibut fishery of Alaska has been of gradual growth, but had 

 already assumed large proportions before any regular statistics were 

 compiled, owing to lack of facilities in the Bureau. It is, moreover, a 

 b.iffling subject for statistical report, because it is conducted in con- 

 nection with the halibut fishery of the Pacific States in such a way that 

 accurately to separate investment and number of men employed is 

 not feasible. Furthermore, many men in Alaska fish for halibut 

 durmg part of the year, for salmon during another part, and perhaps 

 follow other occupations at other times. Statistical tables for the 

 Alaska halibut fishery must therefore be interpreted with allowance 

 for this factor of error. 



The fishery divides itself essentially into two branches, one con- 

 ducted in inland protected waters, the other at sea. The former is 

 carried on by small vessels, largely owned in Alaskan territory, and by 

 vessels out of Puget Sound ports, the catch not landed at any point 

 in Alaska. 



The sea fishery for halibut is prosecuted in extra territorial waters, 

 that is, outside the S-mile limit and adjacent to British as well as 

 American jurisdiction. Part of this catch is landed at Alaskan 

 points and shipped on regular steamers; another part is taken directly 

 to Vancouver or Puget Sound points. 



The season of the halibut fishery in Alaska is chiefly the period from 

 September until May, though in recent years a number of vessels have 

 fished continuously throughout the year for the freezing plants of 

 southeast Alaska. Most of the winter catch is shipped fresh to Puget 

 Sound ports for delivery thence to eastern markets. 



The power schooners comprising most of the halibut fleet come 

 principally from Puget Sound. They arrive in September and stay 

 through the winter. Until recently, Frederick Sound, Icy Strait, 

 and other inshore waters have been good halibut grounds, but now 

 catches are very largely from outside waters. Trawls are set at 

 depths varying all the way from 10 to 300 fathoms. 



