HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 33 



considerable velocity. Later in the day very satisfactory results were 

 obtained 3f miles off Danger Island, which bore N. f W., depth 41 

 fathoms; character of the bottom, blue clay. The halibut were not 

 saved, as the ship was well supplied with fish. Their average weight 

 was estimated to be 10 pounds. This ground showed possibilities of 

 supplying a large demand for halibut, 13 being taken on a single 

 trawl which was set 1 hour and 20 minutes. 



MacLeod Harhor. — In the evening the ship anchored in MacLeod 

 Harbor, Montague Island. Shortly after coming to anchor a trawl 

 was baited and set at the mouth of the harbor in 20 fathoms, in- 

 creasing to 24 fathoms at the outer end. The bottom was found 

 rocky in most places. A set of 12 hours resulted in 10 halibut, 

 averaging 30 pounds, the largest weighing 85 pounds; 6 skates, 1 

 large ground shark, and 4 dogfish. That sharks had eaten some of 

 the fish was indicated by the head of one halibut hanging to the 

 hook, and this is frequently the case on ground where sharks are 

 more or less abundant. On the grounds of southeast Alaska, and 

 also on Flattery Bank, some 15 years ago, before extensive fishing 

 for halibut had been carried on, it was not uncommon for fully 

 one-third of the catch to be mutilated by ground sharks. 



Should commercial fishing be extensively carried on in this local- 

 ity, which is likely to be the case, vessels may find shelter in Mac- 

 l^eod Harbor and also Hanning Bay, 5^ miles farther north. At 

 MacLeod Harbor there are also good sites for buildings and wharves, 

 and headquarters could easily be established for carrying on a 

 fishery. A good water supply is close by, a stream emptying into 

 the head of the harbor, and there is a cascade about one-half mile to 

 the eastward not far from the beach. The beach extends nearly 

 around the harbor. A dory load of salmon was taken from the 

 stream with two hauls of a small seine, a portion being used by the 

 ship's company and the rest for bait. 



On the morning of August 1 the ship got under way at an early 

 hour and proceeded to sea, but finding thick weather outside the 

 sound it was considered advisable to make investigations farther 

 north in parts of Prince William Sound, as to which favorable 

 reports had been received of the presence of halibut. 



The ship steamed through Montague Strait a distance of some 40 

 miles, and at noon set one trawl in 48 fathoms of water off the south 

 side of Little Smith Island, which bore NW. ^ W. 1^ miles distant, 

 the east end of Smith Island bearing NE. by N. ^ N. 3^ miles. 

 Reports had been circulated that a considerable quantity of halibut 

 had been captured in this particular locality, but the result of our 

 investigation was negative, two turbot being caught on a trawl baited 

 with fresh salmon. The character of the bottom was found to be 

 muddy. 



