[27] THE HALIBUT FISHERY-—DAVIS’ STRAIT. 215 
with the depth of water, tides, weather, &c., while the trawls were in the 
water. Ihave taken the time when the men left the vessel for setting and 
hauling to represent the time of these operations. To set four skates 
of trawl usually took a little less than one hour, while for hauling the 
same, especially if there were many fish, required threé, and often four 
hours. 
Since the outer end of the trawl was set last and hauled first, this 
would remain in the water less time than that represented by the tables, 
while the inner end, set first but hauled last, would be in the water much 
longer. Yet, as a rule, more fish were caught on the outer than on the 
inner end. Many things are unfavorable for the trawls remaining long 
in the water. In the first place, if the fish are present they will soon 
hook themselves, and more time than is necessary for this is, of course, 
wasted. Then, again, the tide, fish, or both combined, are apt to entan- 
gle the trawls in the rocks, if these are left too long in the water. Besides, 
the voracity of the little shrimp would soon leave gothing but the bones 
of the halibut for the disappointed fishermen, were they allowed many 
hours to satisfy their appetites. So plentiful are these little creatures 
in some:places that they could be scraped off the fish by the handfuls, 
and, when the trawls had remained in the water two or three hours, they 
had left the branchiostegals hanging loosely, besides making a general 
assault on the whole body. 
There were three days of fishing before the 5th of July (the date first 
mentioned in the table) of which I have no minute notes, and have there- 
fore omitted mentioning them inthetable. The fish caught during these 
days, together with those caught on the hand-line from the side of the 
vessel, would certainly make the whole number taken during the trip 
over nine thousand. Sixty-six hauls are recorded in the table, by which 
8,616 fish were taken, averaging 139 for each haul. The smallest num- 
ber taken at a single set was four, the depth being 27 fathoms, and the 
largest number was 497, the depth being between 25 to 30 fathoms. The 
depths expressed, owing to the irregularities of the banks and the extent 
of surface covered by the trawls, are, of course, only approximate, but 
whenever this was measured, I have used the depth where the vessel 
was anchored in preference to the rough calculations of the fishermen, 
for I have found them, in this respect, a little inclined to overestimate. 
It will be observed that the depth in August was less than in July. 
Table for July and August, representing the times of setting and hauling trawls, fish taken, 
depth of water and remarks on weather, tides, §c. 
Date. Set. Hauled. Fish. | Depth. Remarks. 
= == - — 
Fath. 
July 5 | 2.80 p.m...| 4.05 p.m... 48 | 40 | Wind S.W. Cloudy, with slight mist. Tide 
| slackening from running N. Shifted position. 
5 | 8.15 p. m...| 11.40 p. m.. 96 40 | Wind W.N.W. and increasing. Cloudy. 
6 | 2:50 p. m--:)) 5.26 p.m. -- 144 40 | Wind N.E. Hazy. Tide slackening from run- 
ning N. 
6 | 7.45 p. m-.-.-| 10.05 p. m-. 24 40 
Me3.10p. mi -2|'6.D5-psm---|) | 90 40 | Wind 8.W. and nearly calm toward the end.- 
Partly cloudy. ide slackening. Shifted 
position. 
