HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 47 



A bank lying so near the coast, and with several harbors Avithin 

 comparatively easy reach, seems to require no special investigation 

 more than what can easily be performed by fishing vessels. Vessels 

 setting trawls at random and making " flying sets " on various parts 

 of the bank to test the ground in some particular locality will natu- 

 rally at some time discover any " spot " of good ground not already 

 known. 



The chance of finding prolific fishing grounds beyond a depth of 

 100 fathoms or more is not gi'eat, although it is reported by some 

 and supposed by others that small isolated banks exist outside of the 

 plateau which forms Flattery Bank and adjoining ground on the 

 north. This theory no doubt is based on reports circulated by fisher- 

 men and others who have noticed patches of discolored water, it being 

 taken for granted that here were banks because the water had the 

 appearance of being shallow. To prove or disprove the truth- 

 fulness of these reports would require considerable time, especially 

 as no definite positions are given. 



No further trials were made, and in the evening of August 25 we 

 left the bank and steamed up the Straits of Juan de Fuca and pro- 

 ceeded to Comox, British Columbia, where the Albatross remained 

 three days taking in coal. 



On the morning of the 29th Capt. Joyce and the four fishermen 

 were landed at Seattle. On the morning of September 2 the ship 

 anchored off Sausalito, San Francisco Bay. 



