HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 17 



and lagoon close to the wharves, being attracted from offshore 

 grounds by the off al from the canneries. 



The harbor is not well suited for fishing vessels, it being exposed 

 to easterly winds; the holding ground is also poor. In the spring 

 of 1911 a cannery ship dragged ashore and was a total loss. 



The Albatross left Chignik June 27, steaming through TJnga 

 Strait, and passed a cod fishennan off Cape Pankof bound into 

 Bering Sea. There seems to be no reason why the San Francisco 

 and Puget Sound cod fleet should confine their fishing wholly to the 

 Bering Sea region, there being good cod grounds on the banks lying 

 off Kodiak Island, the Shumagin and Semidi Group, where the 

 quality of cod is said to equal those found farther north. It is stated 

 that fish in the localities mentioned are not numerous; but it is safe 

 to say that the small vessels of the fleet, and many of the large ones, 

 would find little difficulty in obtaining cargoes as quickly as on banks 

 in Bering Sea. 



Akuii Island. — On the morning of June 28, having arrived at 

 Akun Island, situated on the west side of Unimak Pass, four halibut 

 trawls, baited with salted herring, were set at the mouth of Akun 

 Bay at intervals of 1 mile apart, in depths varying from 41 to 74 

 fathoms; character of bottom, fine gray sand. The trawls remained 

 down 1 hour and 20 minutes, the result being 5 halibut, 115 cod, and 

 7 sculpins. The average weight of the halibut was 10 pounds; aver- 

 age length, 28 inches; maximum weight and length, 16 pounds and 

 34 inches. The cod were evenly distributed among the dories, show- 

 ing that the ground had a considerable number of cod on it, and with 

 fresh bait and a trial lasting several days fair fishing might be ex- 

 pected. The cod were larger than those taken at Chignik, several 

 weighing 25 pounds; the largest weighed 30 pounds. The hooks 

 brought up a variety of marine growth, starfish, mussels, sea urchins, 

 and live shells covered with sponge. Trawls set any distance from 

 the eastern side of Akun, or a mile or more outside the mouth of 

 Akun Bay, would come in contact with the strong tide sweeping 

 through Unimak Pass. It is very doubtful if the halibut fishery 

 could be carried on here with any degree of success, except on the 

 slack of the tide, which is of short duration. It would not be possi- 

 ble to haul a trawl at other times. 



Lost Harbor. — This harbor is situated on the west side of Akun 

 Island and affords a good shelter from easterly winds. For the pur- 

 pose of making a trial in this locality the ship came to anchor at 

 3 p. m., and a skate of trawl was set off the mouth of the harbor; 

 depth 20 fathoms, rocky bottom. The catch was 2 halibut, weigh- 

 ing 4 and 8 pounds, respectively, and 10 cod; the cod averaged 10 

 pounds. The result of this trial would not indicate halibut to be 

 plentiful at this season. A trial later in the year, at the time salmon 



