14 HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



tion to the need of an investigation of the fishing grounds of Alaska 

 hitherto not fished for halibut. 



After coaling at Comox, Britisli Columbia, the Albatross went to 

 Ketchikan, northward through Wrangell Narrows, Frederick Sound, 

 Chatham Strait, touching at Killisnoo, thence through Icy Strait 

 into Cross Sound by Cape Spencer, from which point a course was 

 shaped for Portlock Bank, latitude 58° 20' 00", longitude 150° 30' 

 00'' W. Here a " flying set " was made as a test, it having been re- 

 ported that a vessel had taken a considerable number of halibut on 

 hand lines while drifting over this ground. 



From this position the ship continued in a westerly direction over 

 Portlock Bank, across the mouth of Cook Inlet into Shelikof Strait, 

 following the coast line in a southerly and westerly direction as far 

 as Unimak Pass, in which vicinity was the most western point in the 

 halibut investigation. The work was begun in this locality instead 

 of on more eastern grounds in order to take advantage of the pleasant 

 weather which generally prevails here in June and July, but is fol- 

 lowed by storms during a period favorable for fishing on Albatross, 

 Portlock, and other banks farther east. 



In order to make a fair test of the commercial value of the halibut 

 banks covered by the Albatross as compared to those of southeast 

 Alaska and other grounds where extensive fishing has been carried 

 on, it was thought advisable to use the same kind of bait (salted her- 

 ring) that was used in developing those grounds, and this was done 

 in the majority of trials made. 



The halibut caught during the investigation average about 20 

 pounds. The largest fish were taken on grounds east of Albatross 

 Bank, and the largest individuals were found off Dick Bay, Marmot 

 Bay, in and off Prince William Sound, Portlock Bank, and on 

 grounds lying between Cape St. Elias and Yakutat Bay. 



LOCALITIES EXA3IINED. 



Ketchikan. — The Albatross arrived at Ketchikan May 31, and there 

 learned from local fishermen that during the past season a consider- 

 able quantity of halibut had been caught off Kelp Bay, on muddy 

 bottom, which is looked upon as an unusual occurrence. 



According to Capt. Joyce, a good halibut ground lies 25 miles south- 

 west of Coronation Island, on which many large fares in the last two 

 years have been taken. Another ground about 25 miles southwest 

 from Forester Island has supplied several large cargoes, and 40 miles 

 southwest by west from the island a " spot " has recently been located 

 on which halibut are plentiful at certain seasons. 



Killisnoo. — On the evening of June 2 skates of halibut trawl were 

 set off Killisnoo in the harbor in 75 fathoms of water. This set was 



