12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1905. 



from the land by comparatively deep water, while in other places 

 shoal water intervenes. The 100-fathom curve is distant 25 to 45 

 miles from the land, inside of which limit there is an estimated area 

 of 3,700 square miles. 



Portlock Bank. — This bank extends northeastward from Kadiak 

 Island in the direction of Middleton Island, a distance of about 120 

 miles, and is irregular in shape. It is the largest single bank south 

 of the Alaska peninsula, its area inside of the 100-fathom curve being 

 about 6,800 square miles. 



The Albatross continued her investigations as far to the eastward 

 as Middleton Island, but no banks were found. 



Codfish have been reported in the western part of the Gulf of Alaska 

 and in the waters of Southeast Alaska, but nowhere do there seem to 

 be any banks which it would be profitable to work with vessels espe- 

 cially devoted to this fishery. 



FISHING STATIONS. 



At the present time nearly one-half of the codfish taken in Alaska 

 are caught by fishermen from the numerous stations scattered along 

 the Alaska peninsula and the islands adjacent thereto on the south- 

 ern side. The business of fishing from stations has fluctuated con- 

 siderably from year to year. The year 1892 was the banner year, 

 2,208,035 pounds of fish being taken by fishermen from stations, to 

 1,742,155 pounds secured by the fishing vessels. The stations soon 

 after began to be abandoned, and for a few years but few were in 

 operation. Of late years, however, they have regained their popu- 

 larity, and it is probably only a question of a few years until all of 

 the cod fishing outside of Bering Sea will be carried on from the shore 

 stations. During the season of 1905 the following stations were 

 operated. 



Union Fish Company. — Pirate Cove, PopofF Island; Northwest 

 Harbor, Big Koniuji Island; Sanborn Harbor, Wedge Cape, and 

 Eagle Harbor, on Nagai Island; Pavlof Harbor and Johnsons Har- 

 bor, on Sannak Island. 



Alaska Codfish Company. — Moffetts Cove and Companys Har- 

 bor, on Sannak Island; Dora Harbor, on Alaska peninsula; and Win- 

 chester and BanenhofT, on Unga Island. 



Seattle- Alaska Fish Company. — Squaw Harbor, on Unga Island. 



Aleutian Live Stock and Mining Company. — Lost Harbor, Akun 

 Island. 



This year (1906) the Pacific States Trading Company is erecting 

 two stations on the Shumagin group. 



Nearly all of these stations are open the whole year round, the 

 fishermen going out in their dories each day when the weather is 

 favorable, and but rarel} 7 having to go more than 5 miles from any of 



