46 HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



The soundings taken and the trial made in this locality were for 

 the purpose of ascertaining the character of the bottom and depth 

 of water on the edge of the bank offshore from the positions where 

 fish are usually caught. Judging from the depth and character of 

 bottom found, it would seem that fishermen have thoroughly covered 

 the ground and already possess the necessary knowledge of this part 

 of the coast for all practical purposes connected with the fishery. 



A considerable fleet of small craft, which harbor in Sydney Inlet 

 during stonny weather, fish on this ground and Flattery Bank in 

 spring and continue until the scarcity of halibut makes it no longer 

 profitable, after which they repair to more northern localities. 



Flattery Bank. — Continuing southward along the coast a short set 

 was made with 2 skates on muddy and sandy bottom in 76 fathoms 

 30 miles from Amphitrite Light, which bore NE. by E. f E., where 



1 red rockfish and 4 dogfish were caught. Notwithstanding the short 

 time the trawls remained down, it was sufficiently long to demon- 

 strate what sort of a catch might be expected. Earlier in the season 

 this ground affords good fishing. 



From this position the ship proceeded 2 miles on a S. b}^ E. \ E. 

 course and found 86 fathoms, muddy bottom. Ran 2 miles farther 

 on the same course and got 92 fathoms. Close to this sounding the 

 chart shows a depth of 225 fathoms, and a distance of 2 miles on the 

 same line brought us into a depth of 150 fathoms, all of which indi- 

 cated that we were on the outer edge of the bank. 



A distance of 8 miles in an ENE, direction brought us into a 

 depth of 60 fathoms, 32^ miles from Cape Beal, on the southwest 

 end of Vancouver Island, which bore NE. Here a trawl was set 

 which remained down one hour, taking 4 black cod, 3 rockfish, and 



2 skates. As at the previous station, the bottom consisted of hard 

 mud and sand. 



Steaming back on the course 2 miles, a trawl was set in 63 fathoms, 

 bottom hard and rocky. From this position Cape Beal bore NE., 

 34| miles distant. In a trial which lasted one hour, 5 rockfish, 1 

 black cod, and 1 ground shark were caught. The trawl was found 

 to be " himg up " on the rocks, causing the loss of an anchor and 

 about half of the ground line. To many of the remaining hooks 

 were attached basket starfish, an indication of good ground. 



In the previous trials farther north earlier in the day there was 

 an absence of the bottom life such as is known to attract halibut. 



Flattery Bank has been resorted to for halibut since 1888, during 

 which time it is very probable that each year a large portion of the 

 ground within the 100-f athom curve has been fished on, and the best 

 grounds contained within that area located by landmarks. 



