8 - SURVEY OF FISHING GROUNDS, 1915. 
Mushy fish occur to the extent of 30 to 40 per cent of the total catch, but in view 
of certain returns from Alaska during the same year (1914) this proportion does not 
seem greater than on other Pacific coast grounds. 
Halibut may be expected in limited quantities off Coos Bay, on a considerably 
smaller and less developed patch of bottom, and possibly off Grays Harbor at some 
season of the year, as a good piece of bottom was located in that vicinity, although 
not a halibut was caught thereon. With respect to halibut and halibut bottom, 
the section of the coast:lying off Tillamook seems to be the least favorable. 
On the other hand, throughout practically the entire reach of the Oregon coast, 
there seems to be an abundance of the smaller flatfishes, some of which are food fishes 
of great excellence. The red rock cod, and doubtless black cod, occur in great 
abundance. Dogfishes are so numerous at times as to be a nuisance. 
Scallops apparently are to be found over a wide range of territory, and in some 
places probably form beds thickly enough populated to warrant fishing, though 
the depth in which they lie may militate against taking them commercially. 
In conclusion, the harbor and market facilities, bait supplies, transportation, and 
cold storage are perhaps too limited and uncertain to enable any of the Oregon coast 
ports to become fishing centers of any great consequence under present conditions. 
The limitation of the fishing season by weather conditions is possibly the greatest 
handicap in competition with Seattle and its proximity to the vast, year-round Alaska 
fishery resources. No doubt the Newport Bank will provide a valuable addition 
to the available supply of halibut, and the greater part of the Oregon coastal region 
will furnish a future source of supply of flounders, sole, black cod, and red rockfish, 
which at present find but a limited market, if any. 
THE INVESTIGATION OF 1915. 
On July 6, 1915, the steamer Albatross left Sausalito, Cal., for 
Seattle to pick up the fishermen and to obtain necessary supplies 
and gear. On July 9 a series of soundings was made immediately 
west of the mouth of the Columbia River. These soundings dis- 
closed the presence of a gully 150 fathoms deeper than the inclosing 
ridges, 12 miles long by 4 miles wide, extending westward from a 
point approximately 12 miles offshore. The northern ridge of this 
gully was definitely located, and although no good halibut bottom 
was found, there probably exist small areas along the edge of the 
ridge where halibut may be taken. 
- On July 20 operations were begun at a point west of Grays Harbor. 
The work was continued in a northerly direction to the edge of 
Flattery Bank, the soundings, with few exceptions, being confined 
to the edge of the continental shelf. The method of work was to 
run lines of soundings between the 70 or 80 fathom curve and a 
depth at which fishing would be impractical. These lines were run 
several miles apart. It was demonstrated that there are many 
small patches of good halibut bottom scattered through this region, 
no less than 14 being located on this trip. Owing to the small size 
of these areas of good bottom, they probably hold the fish for only 
a short time. Four fishing trials were made, the results of which 
are discussed elsewhere in this report. 
