HALIBUT PISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 15 



made more for the purpose of getting a portion of the gear in work- 

 ing order than for testing the resources of the ground, the area of 

 ground, kind of fish generally found here, and their abundance being 

 already known. The Indians of this locality have always resorted to 

 this spot of ground for their supply of halibut, and for the last 15 

 years commercial fishermen have occasionally fished in this region. 



At times halibut are quite plentiful in this particular locality, but 

 not sufficiently numerous to attract vessels operating a large amount 

 of gear; neither is the gi"Ound large enough for more than one or 

 two small vessels at a time. Small boats and canoes at the proper 

 season make good catches. 



On the trawls, which had remained set overnight, were found 34 

 black cod, 7 turbot, 8 rockfish, and 10 ground sharks. The absence 

 of halibut was no doubt due to there being no herring or salmon 

 present, it being too early in the season for those species. During 

 the run of herring and salmon, which occur later in the season, halibut 

 are fairly abundant. 



Leaving Killisnoo, the Albatross sailed out to sea through Icy 

 Strait and Cross Sound. Fishing for halibut has been carried on in 

 Icy Strait by white fishermen about 15 years, at first chiefly during 

 the winter months, salmon-cannery steamers being employed. In 

 later years small craft engaged in the fishery at various seasons, and 

 in recent years a considerable fleet has fished in this region. Near 

 Cape Spencer two small halibut schooners were seen engaged in haul- 

 ing their trawls, several of the dories having good catches. 



Portlock Bank. — On the morning of June 5 we arrived on the 

 eastern edge of Portlock Bank and made several soundings, ranging 

 from 58 to 67 fathoms. A school of orcas came close to the ship, 

 their movements indicating that they were in pursuit of prey. A 

 considerable number of petrels, auks, and other species of bird life 

 were also usually observed on fishing banks. 



Two skates of halibut trawl baited with salted herring were set in 

 38 and 40 fathoms of water, on hard sand and gravelly bottom ; lati- 

 tude 58° 20' 00" N., longitude 150° 30' 00" W. The trawls were set 

 2 miles apart. At the end of one hour and twenty minutes they were 

 hauled, the first taking 7 small halibut and 15 cod, the halibut aver- 

 aging a little over 5 pounds in weight and 22 inches in length. On 

 the second trawl there were found 21 halibut, averaging 16 pounds 

 in weight and 29| inches in length, and 25 small cod. The largest 

 halibut weighed 36 pounds, length 42 inches. During the time the 

 trawls were being set and hauled 54 cod and 1 small halibut were 

 caught on hand lines from the ship. The cod ranged from 18 to 36 

 inches. The result of this trial would indicate that a halibut steamer 

 would meet with considerable success on this ground. A vessel 



