HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 25 



11 cod, 2 skates, and a basket starfish. The halibut were smaller 

 than those captured in the previous trial, the average weight being 

 8^ pounds and length 2G^ inches. Another dory set a trawl I mile 

 E. by N. ^ N. from the first one, in 40 fathoms ; character of the bot- 

 tom, blue clay; length of trial, 1 hour and 30 minutes; the result 

 being 3 halibut, weighing 9, 10, and 12 pounds, resj)ectively, 3 skates, 

 and 1 turbot. 



Evidently halibut on this ground were scattering as compared to 

 the former spots investigated in this region, but as good and poor 

 grounds are frequently found close together, it is not at all unlikely 

 that a mile or more in any direction might reveal favorable conditions. 



Two whale steamers were seen steaming at a moderate rate of 

 speed, and one of them fired several times at whales, of which many 

 were present. On this ground and on the entire coast of Kodiak 

 Island, from Marmot Bay to Cape Alitak, are usually found, during 

 the summer months, a large number of humpback whales. 



Alitak Bay. — Lazy Bay, situated on the northern side of Alitak 

 Bay 4 miles from the entrance, offers good shelter for vessels fishing 

 on grounds in the vicinity of Seal Rocks, Low Cape, Cape Alitak, 

 or Tugidak Island. 



Albatross Bank. — This bank covers an area of about 4,000 miles, 

 and extends practically from the western end of Portlock Bank 

 along the southeastern side of Kodiak Island to Trinity Islands. 

 Near the coast it has for many years been resorted to by local fisher- 

 men for cod. Halibut have incidentally been caught on various parts 

 of the bank, but no systematic search has been made for them, as 

 there is no local demand sufficiently large to warrant the expense of 

 an outfit of proper fishing gear. 



In the evening of July 12 the vessel passed through the channel 

 between Cape Trinity, Tugidak, and Sitkinak Islands, and headed 

 south and eastward under slow speed. At 4.50 a. m., arriving at the 

 place for the next trial, a dory was put over on the western part of 

 Albatross Bank in latitude 56° 21' N., longitude 153° 15" AV., where 

 one trawl, baited with fresh octopus and salted herring, was set in 

 18 fathoms of water; hard, rocky bottom. At the time of setting 

 the trawl a very strong tide was running to the northeast; weather 

 foggy, but clearing later and affording an opportunity to locate our 

 position. 



At the expiration of one hour the trawl was hauled, but soon after 

 breaking out the anchor the ground line parted, and it was necessary 

 to go to the other end. Here again, however, the line parted a few 

 hooks from the end. On the few hooks that were saved six cod were 

 caught. On this spot of ground the bottom is undoubtedly too 

 rocky and rough to operate trawls. Hand lines probably would 

 obtain much better results. 



