HALIBUT PISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 55 



SUMMARY. 



To cover the fishing banks of Alaska thoroughly and indicate 

 accurately the areas where halibut exist in commercial quantities 

 would require several seasons of active work. An entire season 

 should be devoted to systematic operations in each particular region, 

 all parts of the banks being tested several times at suitable intervals 

 and at different seasons to show their actual resources. In the short 

 time which the Albatross had to carry on the work it was found im- 

 possible to enter upon such a plan, and the results accomplished are 

 of value chiefly as indicating the lines which further investigations 

 may profitably pursue. 



No large catches of halibut were made in any one locality, but many 

 of the trials led to the belief that thorough fishing would be profit- 

 able. The grounds which seemed to offer the greatest inducement to 

 fishermen are included in the area extending from the western part 

 of Albatross Bank to the Fairweather Ground. The eastern part of 

 Albatross Bank and the western part of Portlock Bank warrant 

 further investigations, and the inshore grounds are also worthy of 

 attention, especially in the vicinity of the northern end of Kodiak 

 Island, in and off the mouth of Prince William Sound, and between 

 Marmot Island and the eastern entrance of Shelikof Strait. The 

 plateau between Cape Spencer and Yakutat Bay would probably be 

 quite as well worth exploitation as the southeast Alaska banks, where 

 in many cases the fishermen have obtained only meager results for 

 several years. 



It is known that halibut exist in more or less abundance on banks 

 extending north of Cross Sound and westward to Unimak Pass, but 

 more knowledge is needed in regard to both numbers and migrations 

 of the fish on these grounds before a fishery can prudently be under- 

 taken so far from a home port. 



The average weight of halibut caught by the Albatross was about 

 20 pounds, but individuals weighing from 100 to 150 pounds were 

 also taken. It is not uncommon to find small halibut on all banks, 

 and some of the banks which now yield the greatest number of large 

 halibut formerly gave indications of having few fish of marketable 

 size. 



The question of bait supply will require further investigation. 

 Should bait prove to be scarce in the fishing region, means will have 

 to be devised to ship the supply to convenient places along the coast, 

 long passages from the banks in search of it being neither feasible 

 nor profitable. 



Only vessels of the largest size now employed in the halibut fishery 

 could operate with any degree of success or profit on banks situated 

 from 500 to 800 miles or more from the nearest market. Small ves- 



