HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 5 



In the early history of the Pacific halibut fishery a large portion 

 of the catch was taken in waters on the south side of Dixon En- 

 trance, in Hecate Strait, between Queen Charlotte Islands and the 

 islands fringing the coast of British Columbia on the east side of 

 the strait. The Indians of this region had fished in these waters 

 from time immemorial, obtaining an ample supply of fish for their 

 needs, and they furnished the first information to the white man of 

 the abundance of halibut on grounds adjacent to their villages. They 

 were instinctively very reluctant to impart the information desired, 

 and with good reason, but constant persuasion on the part of white 

 fishermen and a promise of 50 cents a fish to the Indians for all the 

 latter might catch were inducements too great for the Indians to 

 resist. Fish were furnished by these people which were never paid 

 for; and in a very short time the white fishermen had acquired full 

 knowledge of all the local grounds pointed out by the Indians and 

 all others which they could locate. 



At this period eastern fishermen began to appear on the ground, 

 backed by a considerable amount of capital, and having devised 

 means of distributing large quantities of fish, were in a position to 

 equip and operate a fleet of sufficient size to supply the market in 

 carload lots. A steamer which in the previous winter had been en- 

 gaged in the same fishery and had met with loss was chartered by the 

 new company, and several members of her crew were induced to con- 

 tinue in the fishery. Instead of dories Columbia River boats were 

 used in setting the trawls. Lumber for camps, a scow for a dock, 

 and necessary supplies were shipped from Puget Sound ports, and a 

 fishing station erected on shore near the best-known fishing ground. 

 The place selected was near the west end of Banks Island in Hecate 

 Strait. The boats were manned by two men each and furnished with 

 the necessary amount of gear, 1,200 fathoms of trawl. They were 

 paid 25 cents a fish, one-half the sum promised to the Indians. This 

 was afterwards changed to 1 cent per pound. 



This industry started by eastern dealers caused competition to 

 arise in British Columbia. Two firms were inaugurated, working 

 on the plan adopted by the New England dealers, and the vessels 

 belonging to these firms met on a small fishing ground near the west 

 end of Banks Island, where there was only room for one vessel to set 

 gear. In one month's time they had so depleted the ground that its 

 yield was reduced to a minimum, and an extensive search for halibut 

 failed to offer any hope for a profitable catch for some time in the 

 future. The enforced idleness of the crew, combined with the neces- 

 sity of doing something toward paying for the outfit and running 

 expenses of the vessels, caused a more thorough search to be made on 

 the sloping side of an extensive bank composed of bowlders and sand 

 which lies from 5 to 10 miles off the rocky shore fringing the coast. 



