HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 37 



extends in a northerly direction, the north end being separated 

 from the mainland by a channel 1 mile wide, the water on the north 

 side of the channel washing Okalee Spit, which marks the southern 

 and eastern boundary of Controller Bay. 



At 6 p. m., on August 6, a position was occupied in 60 fathoms of 

 water, muddy bottom. Cape St. Elias bearing WSW., 25 miles dis- 

 tant, and Cape Suckling NW. by ^Y. ^ W., 14 miles. At this station 

 very satisfactory results were obtained, 5 halibut being caught in a 

 trial lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes. The halibut were the largest 

 yet taken during the investigation, averaging 100 pounds in weight 

 and 53 inches in length. 



Inasmuch as scattering halibut were found in this vicinity and the 

 trial was made on muddy bottom, the result points to prolific ground 

 close by, a probability confirmed by the quality and size of the fish. 



The next trial in this vicinity was made 3 miles from Cape Suck- 

 ling, which bore NW. ; depth, 24 fathoms ; character of the bottom, 

 glacial mud. Two halibut and one skate were captured in this 

 berth, the halibut weighing 8 pounds each. 



Only scattering halibut might be expected on ground of this kind, 

 but they are very good indication that there is a body of fish in the 

 near vicinity. South of Cape Suckling some 20 miles the depth of 

 water ranges from 180 to 225 fathoms, the bottom being composed of 

 gray ooze; the bottom inside of the 100-fathom curve is made up 

 largely of mud and silt, except in a few places 12 to 15 miles east- 

 ward of Cape St. Elias. 



Icy Bay. — A distance of 28 miles in an E. ^ N. direction from our 

 last position a sounding was taken in 90 fathoms. Finding soft, 

 muddy bottom we continued 2 miles farther on the same course and 

 got 100 fathoms of water. All the soundings on the chart in this 

 particular locality being marked mud and ooze, and it being consid- 

 ered therefore useless to make further investigation, the Albatross 

 steamed 32 miles inshore and in the evening came to anchor in 29 

 fathoms of water, the western entrance of Icy Bay bearing NE. I E., 

 10 miles distant, and 6 miles directly offshore. xVt 8.40 p. m. a trawl 

 was set close to the ship and remained down over night, catching 2 

 cod and 1 skate. No great catch of desirable fish was expected in the 

 immediate vicinity of the ship, but it was thought that a portion of 

 the trawl might fall on patches of hard bottom. 



Icy Bay to Point Manhy. — The following day, August 7, the ship 

 got under way at an early hour, and during the day gradually worked 

 to the eastward along the coast over soft, muddy bottom, soundings 

 being taken frequently. In the evening, at anchor oft' Point Manby, 

 trawls were set in 21 fathoms of water, on hard sand and gravelly 

 bottom, the only suitable place found during the day. A set lasting 1 



