[29] THE HALIBUT FISHERY—DAVIS STRAIT. 217 
Table for July and August, representing the times of setting and hauling trawls, §-c.—Cont’d, 
Date. Set. Hauled. Fish. | Depth. Remarks. 
Fath. 
Aug. 12 | 4.50 p. m...| 7.30 p.m... 254 35 | Wind gentle, E.N.E. Clear. Tideslack. Two 
skates to a dory. 
05) 4 a.meecc.- 6.45 a.m... 60 35 | Wind N.W., freshening. Cloudy. One skate 
to a dory. 
15 | 4.45 a. m...| 7 p.m....-. 63 35 | Calm. Clearing, followed by blue sky. Two 
skates to a dory. 
16 | 6.30 a. m...| 8.10 a. m... 102 35 | Wind gentle, N.E. Sky clear. Tide strong, 
running to windward. Twoskates to adory. 
Shifted position. 
16 | 2.30 p. m.-.| 4.45 p.m... 112 30 | Wind gentle, N.E. Hazy. Tide moderate, 
running to the east. One skate toa dory. 
Fish large. 
165 KG psmleee a2 8.30 p.m... 111 30 | Wind moderate, N.E. Clear. Tide running to 
windward. Two skates to a dory. 
D7) |Gipomecss-- 8.10 p. m... 112 30 | Wind moderate, N.E. Clondy. Tide slack. 
Three skates to adory. Shifted position, 
1S) |e 1Ovacme. || NOON os... 200 30 | Wind light, E.N.E., becoming calm. Cloudy. 
Tide strong. Three skates toa dory. Fish 
excellent. Holsteinborg. 
20 | 4.35 a. m-...| 7.45 p.m... 68 25 | Wind gentle, N.E. by E. Clear. Tide running 
strong, 8.S.W. Three skates to a dory. 
205.30) a7 m'...-|) 10'as m2 3. 74 25 | Wind moderate, N.E. Clear, followed by fog. 
Tide strong to windward. ‘Three skates to a 
dory. 
21 | 4.30 p. m-...| 7.30 p.m... 81 25 | Wind moderate, N.E. Foggy. Tide slacken- 
ing. Shifted position. 
24 | 1la.m..... 2.40 p.m... 123 30 | Wind moderating, N.E. Clouds broken. Tide 
running to windward. Shifted position. 
PARAM a (e) Rae: Yon oo ears (2) WS Se ctesiaeee Set under sail on the inner ground, near the 
mouth of Holsteinborg Harbor. 
Total x. S| antisite. nee 8, 616 
Average time between setting and hauling in July, 3 hours. 
Average time between setting aud hauling in August, 2 hours, 53 minutes. 
Average depth of water in July, 45.5 fathoms. 
Average depth of water in August, 33 fathoms. 
Nimiberiofetishicaus: hbange MLy cece seg sete ae loo ccinicisinie aalaeisle ecie an p acifomie sewiniins tei 3, 764 + 
NM berondishicanehtinrAueusti-cc 22st eect Aaeog- secmete cece cencssosccdectecacesseh eases’ 4, 852 
AR OCAM Pee ctatat Sate ass tte Soe eainia bet acatoes ce tee Aaa ceicebicles Secameoeeceelnesaet Sicncscecseeess 8, 616 + 
11.—_ NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HALIBUT SO FAR AS IT AFFECTS 
THE FISHING. 
In the preceding tables, under the head of ‘‘remarks,” quite frequently 
occurs the phrase “ Shifted position,” which signifies, in this connection, 
a little more than mere changing of the position of the vessel; it implies 
that the fish, for some reason, are no longer to be caught where they 
may have been, up to that time, quite abundant. Are the fish of a roy- 
ing disposition, or do the individuals remain within restricted limits? 
I shall not attempt to decide, but will merely mention some facts which 
may have a bearing on the question. 
The fishermen seldom expect to cateh many fish near the vessel after 
the first flitching. Ifyouask for an explanation of this, they will tell you 
that the “gurry” drives the halibut away. By “egurry,” they mean the 
refuse of the fish, that is thrown overboard at the time of flitching. There 
is only a single case, that I know of, which would seem opposed to this 
explanation. It isthat of a large halibut which had eaten the head, back- 
bone, and viscera of a fish that had been fliteched. It cannot be that the 
flesh of their own species is distasteful to the halibut, for thisis what the 
