292 KEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] 



time the gear was hauled. In the appended table the dates when fishing- 

 was carried on, during June, July, and August, are given, and the num- 

 ber of halibut taken each day which were large enough to be flitched 

 and suited down. 



The heaviest catch was made on June 5, when 420 halibut were taken, 

 and Captain Pendleton estimates that they weighed upwards of oO,000 

 l)ounds in a fresh condition. On .several occasions he thinks as numy 

 as 30,000 i>ounds or more of halibut w^ere taken in a single day; this 

 estimate being, of course, given for the fish as they came from the 

 water. 



Speaking in general terms, the Williams tislied between the parallels 

 of G60 10' and 60° 37' north latitude, and 21° 40' to 23° 10' west longi- 

 tude, trials being made in depths varying from 25 to 125 fathoms. The 

 character of the bottom w^here the halibut were mostly taken was 

 rather rough and broken, with an abundance of quahogs (probably Cyp- 

 rina Islandica), whelks {Biicehvnm), and crabs, while sponges, moss, and 

 other invertebrates were hauled up on the Hues. 



From the 7th to the 14th of July the Williams fished in the viciuity 

 of North Cape, in 35 to 40 fathoms of water, 7 to 14 miles from the land, 

 the cape bearing from W\ .} N. to W.8W. 



During the latter part of June, and as late- as July 5, large masses of 

 tloe-ice were seen stretching along from northeast to southwest as far 

 as the eye could extend, while no water could be seen to the northwest. 

 For several days fishing was carried on near the edge of the ice, and at 

 one time the lloe came within one-half mile of the schooner, but did not, 

 however, interfere with fishing. 



Captain Pendleton states that the weather, as a rule, was foggy, but 

 reasonably moderate for so high a latitude — not so good on an average 

 as the weather is on the Grand Bank in summer. From the 12th to 

 the 18th of July the weather was stormy and rough, and most of this 

 time the vessel lay in harbor. These spells of rough w^eather were not 

 wholly lost time, for the days spent in harbor gave the fish an opportu- 

 nity to settle, and the crew took "advantage of the chance thus oflered 

 to "pack up" their ditches, and secure room for salting more halibut 

 when the weather proved suitable for fishing operations. July 30 and 

 31 the Williams was in Ise Fiord, 'where she lay until August 0, when 

 she started again for the fishing ground oti' Cape jSTorth. The last day's 

 fishing was on August 14, from which time until the 20th the vessel lay 

 in harbor, the crew engaged getting material on board, which had been 

 landed, and in making all necessary preparation for the home passage. 



The Alice M. Williams s;i,iled from Ise Fiord for home August 20, 

 reached Belle Lsle, Labrador, September 4, Cape Sable a week latei', and 

 at midnight of the 12th Thatcher's Island liglits were seen, the vessel 

 reaching Gloucester Harbor early on the morning of September 13, The 

 passage home Avas uneventful, and only one incident connected with it 

 seems worthy of s])ecial mention 3 this, however, being of unusual in- 



