59 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1915. 
this concern, as well as other companies, made shipments of fresh 
halibut on the regular lines of steamers plying between ports of 
Alaska and Puget Sound. Many of the halibut schooners taking fish 
on the banks off the coast of Alaska proceeded directly to Puget 
Sound or to ports in British Columbia to land their catch. 
The opinion expressed by the Bureau several years ago that the 
opening of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway to Prince Rupert, British 
Columbia, would probably divert a considerable portion of the halibut 
trade from American ports was fully confirmed by developments in 
1915. Prince Rupert is located only 90 miles from Ketchikan and _ 
unless means are adopted to hold the trade it is undoubtedly true 
that Prince Rupert will draw a large proportion of the halibut trade 
now enjoyed by American communities. From an American point 
of view the importance of the situation may be seen from the fact 
that during the year 1914 no halibut were landed by American fishing 
vessels at Prince Rupert, but beginning in March, 1915, and con- 
tinuing through to the end of the year American vessels landed more 
than 7,000,000 pounds of halibut at that port, while Canadian vessels 
landed about 8,000,000 pounds there. It is reported that approxi- 
mately 80 per cent of the fish caught by Canadian vessels were shipped 
to American markets. All the American-caught fish landed at Prince 
Rupert were shipped in bond to American markets, chiefly to the 
important distributing centers for halibut at Boston and other eastern 
cities. 
The Dominion Government has taken active steps to develop the 
halibut industry of British Columbia, and chiefly that of Prince 
Rupert, by an order in council which was issued on March 9, 1915, as 
follows: : 
During the present calendar year foreigners or foreign corporations bringing fresh 
fish in vessels registered in the United States of America to any port in British Co- 
lumbia shall be permitted to land such fresh fish at such port without payment of duties ' 
and transship the same in bond to any port in the United States, or to sell such fish in 
bond to such local dealers or dealer as may be properly and duly licensed therefor, 
under the regulations and conditions in compliance with the bonding requirements 
(without the right, however, in either instance, to sell in Canada fer consumption 
therein, or otherwise except in bond, any of such fresh fish so landed); and such 
foreigners and foreign corporations bringing fresh fish in vessels registered in the United 
States of America to any port in British Columbia, shall be permitted to purchase 
supplies, and ship crews for such vessels, at any port in the said province of British 
Columbia, the whole under such regulations and conditions as the minister of customs 
may determine. 
By the terms of this order Canada is enabled to receive the benefits 
of the American fishing industry, but the market for American caught 
halibut landed at Prince Rupert or other Canadian ports has not 
been enlarged, as the use of such fish so landed by American vessels is 
prohibited in Canada. Various inducements have been held out by the 
authorities at Prince Rupert to cause American vessels to land their 
