HALIBUT FISHIl^rG GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 27 



vessels have been negotiated for to engage in the cod and halibut 

 fisheries, the necessary dories, fishing gear, etc., having already been 

 purchased. It was also stated that a large three-masted schooner was 

 to be fitted for freezing halibut, salmon, and other fish, and it was 

 subsequently learned that the schooner obtained a cargo. The cod 

 and halibut were taken off the eastern end of Kodiak Island, western 

 edge of Portlock Bank. 



Vessels fishing on Portlock or Albatross Banks or any of the local 

 grounds off Kodiak Island should not find it difficult to obtain a 

 supply of bait. The various species of low-grade salmon which are 

 sometimes used for bait are obtainable in their season at different 

 parts of the island. 



At times herring are said to be plentiful in Victoria and Uganik 

 Bays, situated on the northern part of Kodiak close to Kupreanof 

 Strait. Herring are also found in Marmot Bay. 



Salmon are easily captured in drag seines, and herring in the same 

 manner when found in bays. Gill nets set on the banks and in har- 

 bors and bays might also be the means of adding to the bait supply. 

 The numerous birds generally observed on the fishing grounds in this 

 region strongly indicate the presence of surface fish, among which 

 are herring. 



Fishermen, as a rule, are not inclined to spend much time in search 

 of bait or make mu.ch effort to catch it, provided it can be purchased 

 at a reasonable price, it being considered more economical to purchase 

 than to catch it. Should a portion of the halibut fleet find it profit- 

 able to fish on banks off the coast of central Alaska, stations supplying 

 bait would doubtless be established within a short time. 



On July 17 the investigation was continued, the first trial being 

 made broad off Chiniak Bay, 15 miles in a S. by W. direction from 

 the position of the last trial, on July 14. The set was made in 54 

 fathoms on rocky bottom, a distance of 12 miles from Cape Chiniak, 

 which bore SW. f W. The trawl was allowed to remain down 1 hour 

 and 30 minutes and captured 9 halibut, 11 cod, and 5 turbot. The 

 largest cod weighed 27 pounds; halibut averaged 9| pounds in weight 

 and 28^ inches in length. One individual measured 36 inches and 

 weighed 22 pounds; tlie smallest 24 inches and 5 pounds. 



The ship ran 144^ miles toward Ugak Island and sounded in 40 

 fathoms; broken bottom, composed of shells, jDcbbles, gravel, and mud, 

 the island bearing SW. ^ S. ; distance, 10 miles. One trawl was set, 

 and 1 mile SW. by W. from the first dory a second set was made in 

 38 fathoms on hard bottom, composed chiefly of small rocks. The 

 first trawl remained down 1 hour and 15 minutes and the second 

 1 hour and 40 minutes, the combined catch amounting to 10 halibut, 

 15 cod, 9 sculpins, 2 skates^ and an octopus. The halibut were small, 



