32 HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



miles apart in an easterly direction from the position of the first 

 dory. The character of the bottom at each station was rocky. 



In the first position only 4 halibut and 5 cod Avere taken. At- 

 tached to the hooks were many sea anemones and a hermit crab. 

 On the ground line and snoods was a considerable quantity of what 

 is called by fishermen "slime," and is claimed by them to be wherever 

 found an indication of good halibut ground. The practical fisher- 

 men on board, and also Capt. H. B. Joyce, feel certain that large 

 quantities of halibut are to be found on this ground at some season 

 of the year, basing their opinion upon comparisons with grounds in 

 southeast Alaska, where similar conditions exist and where halibut 

 are abundant at certain periods and very scarce at others. 



At the second station occupied the catch consisted of 8 cod. On 

 account of the sharp rocks, of which the bottom was chiefly com- 

 posed, the ground line chafed oflf, causing the loss of one-half the 

 trawl and an anchor. The character of the bottom here is such as to 

 attract halibut, the portion of the trawl saved bringing up large 

 numbers of holothurians, ascidians, sea pens, and live shells. The 

 result of the last trial was 6 halibut, 17 cod, and 2 red rockfish. The 

 average weight of the halibut was 16^ pounds and of the rockfish 

 15^ pounds. 



A test of the ground was made the follow^ing morning, July 29, in 

 69 fathoms of water, on sharp rocky bottom, latitude 58° 32' 00" 'N., 

 longitude 148° 59' 00" W. A strong southeast wind was blowing, 

 accompanied by a choppy sea and foggy at intervals. At the expira- 

 tion of one hour the work of hauling the trawl began. As soon as 

 the anchor was broken out and a strain brought to bear on the 

 ground line, it parted, two hooks from the end. By the time the dory 

 reached the ship the wind had increased considerably. A course 

 was then shaped for Montague Island, situated at the mouth of 

 Prince William Sound, off which we arrived the same evening, a dis- 

 tance of 80 miles from the last station occupied. The weather being 

 very thick, the ship lay to during the night. 



Mouth of Prince William /Sound. — July 30 the Albatross came 

 to anchor in 28 fathoms, and at 7.30 a. m. a set was made close to the 

 ship, Cape Clear bearing N. ^ W., distance 3 miles; bottom rocky. 

 The trawl was set on the last of the ebb tide and hauled at the be- 

 ginning of the slack tide, but before finishing the tide began to run a 

 strong flood, making it very difficult to get the gear. The catch was 

 5 halibut and 7 rockfish. One halibut weighing 36 pounds was 

 taken on a hand line from the ship ; two others were brought to the 

 water's edge but escaped. The rockfish averaged 16 pounds and the 

 halibut 37 pounds, 45 inches long, and they were of excellent quality. 

 In this localit}?^ success depends largely upon choosing the condition 

 of the tide, which sweeps in and out of Prince William Sound with 



