COASTS OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON, fg 
they came inshore to feed. It was apparent that there were no 
banks of sufficient size nor of a character to hold the fish the year 
around. 
As a result of these investigations, many vessels of the Seattle 
halibut fleet made trips to the Newport Bank and obtained excellent. 
catches. During the period from May 10, 1914, to September 15 
of the same year 853,300 pounds of halibut were caught.¢ This 
total does not include several fares about which no definite informa- 
tion could be secured. 
The following comparison of the yield of fish on the Newport and 
the Alaska Banks is taken from the report of the investigations 
of 1914:5 
In August, 1914, the average schooner trip (inclusive of mushy fish) from Oregon 
was 42,800 pounds, 3,000 pounds less than the average schooner fare landed at Seattle 
during the same month. Compared with the average trip for the same month of the 
previous year, the Oregon catch was about 100 pounds greater. 
In September the average trip from the Newport Bank exceeded by over 15,000 
pounds the average of all schooner trips landed in Seattle in September of either 
year. Theaverage catch of sound fish alone from off Newport during this month com- 
pares favorably with the average Seattle fare including mushy fish, being 34,667 as 
against 38,343 pounds at Seattle in 1914, and 38,657 pounds in 1913. The Seattle 
averages are based on 38 trips in 1913 amd 70 in 1914, whereas the Newport data in- 
clude but 6 trips. 
To all appearances, within the fishing area off Newport, halibut are as plentiful, 
at least in August, and especially in September, as on the various northern banks 
fished by the Seattle schooners. It may be said that with the great number of north- 
ward trips there is greater possibility for making poor ones; but a few of these would 
not materially reduce the Seattle average, based on so many trips, whereas a few 
from Newport would have reduced that average to an insignificant quantity. 
Flounders, sole, red rockfish, black cod, and dogfish, although not 
marketed extensively, were found to be present on this part of the 
Pacific coast in considerable quantities. 
The summarization of the results of the investigations of 1914 is 
quoted verbatim: ¢ 
The investigation developed the existence of a nice run of halibut during a period 
of at least two months on a bank having an area of approximately 250 square miles, 
off Newport, Oreg. The run attained its maximum in August and September, but 
fish were present in June and July. A profitable fishery probably could be conducted 
at that time, and at certain places might possibly be engaged in as early as the latter 
part of April. Irrespective of the abundance oi fish, however, the weather conditions 
and lack of shelter will restrict fishing to the period from April to September. In 
1914 this run yielded commercial catches totaling over 850,000 pounds of halibut 
in 21 trips, for which $23,646.25 was received by the fishermen. Average trips of 
40,000 pounds were caught in four days or less, the fish averaging 27 pounds in weight- 
@ Survey of the fishing grounds on the coasts of Washington and Oregon in 1914. Bureau of Fisheries 
Document no. 817, p. 29. 
b Idem, p. 23 
¢ Idem, p. 27. 
86497°—17 
