56 HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



sels will be obliged to continue fishing on inshore grounds and banks 

 adjacent to the coast, unless shipping facilities should be established 

 at points in central Alaska, Kodiak Island, and other places farther 

 west. 



Vessels fishing the Fairweather Ground and Portlock and Alba- 

 tross Banks will be at some disadvantage as to harbors, but on the 

 western part of Portlock Bank and the northern and eastern part of 

 Albatross Bank shelter can be found along the coast of Kodiak and 

 other islands at no great distance from the fishing grounds. There 

 are several harbors near the grounds lying southwest of Kodiak 

 Island, and in the vicinity of the Shumagin Islands, but the heavy 

 tide makes them dangerous in foggy weather. In the vicinity of 

 Sannak Island and Unimak Pass, also, currents and tides of un- 

 known direction frequently interfere with navigation. 



At many of the stations occupied by the Alhati^oss it was evident 

 that vessels fitted for cod trawling would have little difficulty in 

 securing their trips. Cod were particularly abundant on the eastern 

 edge of Portlock Bank, Sannak Bank, and in the vicinity of Akun, 

 Akutan, and Simeonof Islands. But while cod caught off shore are 

 in better condition than those taken nearer in, and while their 

 abundance on these grounds is known to the fishermen, little fishing 

 has been done in these localities by the large vessels, and boats con- 

 nected with the shore stations do not venture so far out. It is 

 thought these offshore grounds could be worked with profit. 



The investigation as a whole points to opportunity for develop- 

 ment of the Pacific halibut fishery much beyond its present limits. 

 The phenomenal catches landed in the last few years suggest no 

 stringency of supply on grounds now fished, and this fact will doubt- 

 less delay the expansion of the fishery, but with the now large demand 

 of the markets it is expected that some of the large steamers will at 

 once proceed to develop the possibilities that have been revealed. 



