HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 45 



porarily exhaust the ground. It is true that in the region mentioned 

 no large bank has been discovered between Cape Muzon and Chris- 

 tian Sound, but since the introduction of steamers and larger sail- 

 ing vessels a much greater area has been developed, which has fur- 

 nished the market with several million pounds of halibut. In the 

 last few years, however, these prolific grounds have shown signs of 

 temporary depletion which has caused a more diligent search farther 

 offshore. 



Icy Strait. — This strait, which comes in the same category, was 

 first visited for halibut about 15 years ago. The fisherj'^ was started 

 on a small scale with a cannery steamer after the salmon season had 

 closed, and the catch was shipped to market by the regular line of 

 steamers plying between southeast Alaska and Puget Sound ports. 

 Several shipments were made during the winter, and as the work 

 proved remunerative the captain of the steamer continued in the 

 fishery the following winter. Soon several other steamers were added 

 to the winter fleet, and also a number of small sailing vessels. As 

 the demand for halibut increased and it became known that large 

 numbers of the fish inhabited this and adjacent regions the fishery, 

 instead of being conducted only in the winter months, was extended 

 to cover all seasons when the fish were obtainable. 



Fishing was wholly confined to Icy Strait and small bays and inlets 

 among the islands bordering the strait. It is only in recent years 

 that vessels have sought waters any considerable distance west from 

 the mouth of the strait in the vicinity of Cape Spencer. 



As stated elsewhere, this ground lies comparatively near the south- 

 ern part of what might be termed the Fairweather Bank, which 

 extends northward about 60 miles in the latitude of Dry Bay. 



Sydney Inlet, Vancouver Island. — On the morning of August 25 

 a sounding was taken 25 miles S. ^ E. from Esteban Point, getting 

 no bottom at 250 fathoms and demonstrating that in the immediate 

 vicinity of this position the water is too deep for commercial fishing. 

 Another sounding was then taken 22 miles from the light, which 

 bore N. f W. AVliile the depth of water found was not too deep 

 for operating halibut trawls, the character of the bottom did not 

 indicate ground such as halibut frequent. 



At 8 a. m., having got 80 fathoms and finding the bottom composed 

 of mud and sand mixed, a skate of trawl was set, Esteban Point 

 bearing NW. by N. f N. 18 miles. A trial lasting one hour afforded 

 3 black cod and 1 red rockfish. Fishermen in this locality are largely 

 guided to the best fishing grounds by landmarks. A distance of one- 

 half mile and sometimes a less distance off the proper mark will 

 often put them on barren ground. 

 9275°— 13 13 



