COASTS OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON, 15 
seems to carry a thin surface film of mud or else the line of demarcation between 
the two extends much nearer shore than has been shown either by the chart or by the 
soundings. 
Southward of Coos Bay, extending well toward the Coquille River, is a compara- 
tively extensive outcrop of shale, rich in bottom organisms, in which the soundings 
developed two areas of good halibut bottom, fine gravel. The soundings, together 
with the yield of set xxviu, seem to indicate that more detailed examination might 
locate areas of so-called broken bottom, which is more productive of fish than shale 
alone. 
DISCUSSION OF THE SETS. 
On account of the fact that the fishermen of Seattle were willing 
and desirous of testing’ any new halibut ground if its location and 
character were given them, and because of the limited time available 
for the survey (two and one-half months), it was considered more 
practicable to make a small number of fishing trials and to spend all 
of the time in locating new banks. Consequently four practical 
fishermen were taken on the first trip and four trial sets were made. 
Two fishermen were taken on the second trip, but no halibut bank 
was discovered (the trip was offshore in deep water) and no sets 
were made. On the third trip no fishermen accompanied the vessel 
except the expert fishermen, who remained during the whole survey. 
Arrangements were made to carry, in the ship’s refrigerator, 
enough fresh frozen bait for one trip. Fresh salmon could not be 
obtained at a reasonable price at the time bait was purchased, but 
some excellent frozen herring were secured and a reserve supply of 
salt herring was carried. I*resh salmon has been found to be a 
better halibut bait than herring, the better results warranting the 
payment of a higher price. 
An 8-line trawl, carrying about 250 hooks spaced 9 feet apart, 
was used in the same manner as is customary among the commercial 
fishermen. The sets were all double-banked and made with two 
skates of line. The trials each lasted an hour. While the set was 
being made the surface and bottom temperatures were taken; sur- 
face and bottom water samples secured; and tow net hauls made 
with nets of three sizes of mesh.? ' 
The results of the four fishing trials are shown in table 3 together 
with the locations of the sets. The bearings are given as a fisher- 
man would give them. 
Set I—On July 21, SW. by W. 4 W. (magnetic) 19.1 miles 
from Destruction Island, a bottom of gravel and coarse black sand 
was found in 88 fathoms. A set of one hour resulted in five halibut, 
weighing 22, 32, 44, 48, and 50 pounds, respectively, all being first- 
class fish. The 50-pound fish was a male and the rest females. A 
blue shark 83 inches long and weighing 64 pounds and one cultus 
cod 42 inches long were caught. Black cod were abundant (44 taken) 
document no. 817, p. 14. 
>No. 000 grit gauze; no. 12 and 20 bolting silk. 
