HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 7 



The Columbia Eiver boats originally used in the Pacific halibut 

 fishery have given place to the dories used in the Atlantic industry. 

 The dories now employed, however, are 20 feet long, an increase of 

 2 feet over the length of those formerly used, because of the additional 

 gear handled. The Pacific fishermen operate from two to four more 

 skates of trawl to a dory than are generally " run " by fishermen on 

 the Atlantic coast, this in a measure because of the comparative shal- 

 low water in which halibut have been taken, and the close proximity 

 of these banks to the mainland, where much greater risk can be taken 

 than on grounds situated far from the coast. 



To lessen the labors of unloading by handling the fish separately, 

 dories are now fitted with a heavy net, covering the bottom and sides 

 to the risings, which when brought together at the top forms a bag. 

 The fish when taken from the hooks are thrown into the bottom of 

 the dory, between the parting boards, in the usual manner. Wlien a 

 dory has secured a load the net is drawn together at the top by the 

 rope to which it is hung. A signal is then made to the vessel indi- 

 cating a desire to unload. The steamer runs alongside, a tackle is 

 lowered, and the contents of the bag hoisted on deck. The time occu- 

 pied in performing this operation seldom exceeds three or four min- 

 utes. The dory is furnished with another net and left to finish 

 hauling the trawl ; the steamer in the meantime goes to other dories 

 requiring assistance. 



This method of transferring halibut from the dories to the steamer 

 has proved very satisfactory, and saves a great deal of time and labor, 

 making it possible to catch and handle nearly twice as many fish in a 

 day as by the old system. The net was invented by Capt. H. B. Joyce 

 and used by him several years before it became generally adopted. 



A steamer usually carries 12 to 14 dories, equipped with the quantity 

 of fishing gear mentioned. On good fishing ground the trawls are set 

 parallel to each other, about one-third of a mile apart, the area cov- 

 ered by the trawls of a single vessel sometimes exceeding 15 square 

 miles, or 9,000 acres. One fish to 2 acres of ground is a catch seldom 

 taken. An area fished upon one day seldom yields more than one-half 

 as much the day following. The increased number of steamers makes 

 it almost necessary for one or more to fish on the same ground several 

 days in succession. 



Another result of the competition, and one which imperils the lives 

 of fishermen, is the reckless regard they have for weather conditions. 

 Where formerly fishing was carried on in weather which boats could 

 ride out in safety, it is now a common practice to fish when the sea is 

 running high. As the trawl is hauled the danger grows if fish are 

 being caught, and when a dory is loaded or partially loaded the occu- 

 pants are in a precarious position. Care and skillful management 

 must be exercised in coming alongside of the steamer and discharging 



