FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 49 
known at the present time. They are also reported all along the 
Alaska peninsula and the adjacent islands, and also in Prince William 
Sound. This year the former revenue cutter Grant, which is now en- 
gaged in halibut fishing, after towing a salmon salting outfit to Kenai, 
in Cook Inlet, prospected for halibut between there and Rose Spit, on 
Queen Charlotte Island, at the lower side of Dixon Entrance. Al- 
though trawls were set frequently, practically no halibut were secured, 
but the master of the steamer thinks that this might be due to the 
merely temporary absence of the fish, as he found none in the vicinity 
of Rose Spit, one of the best fishing places on the coast, upon his arrival 
there. Mud bottom was found quite generally in Cook Inlet and the 
Gulf of Alaska, which is considered by the fishermen an unfavorable 
indication. 
In southeast Alaska the fish appear to be most abundant in the 
numerous bays, sounds, and straits during the winter months. Icy, 
Chatham, Peril, and Sumner straits and Frederick Sound are the chief 
centers of abundance, the fishermen quite generally using Wrangell 
Narrows as the shipping point. Indians fish considerably in Boca de 
Quadra and the vicinity of Kah Shakes Cove, Marys Island, and the 
mouths of Kasaan Bay and Cholmondeley Sound. In summer the 
greater part of the fishing is carried on in Icy and Chatham straits 
and Stephens Passage. Halibut are generally plentiful in Icy 
Straits at all seasons. 
METHODS AND CONDITIONS. 
In summer the fish are scattered considerably, but during the win- 
ter they school on banks in the waters noted above. In this season 
the greater part of the year’s catch is made, every available craft being 
pressed into service. 
Dealers located at Tee Harbor, Juneau, Douglas, Scow Bay, and 
Ketchikan handle the fish from the fishing boats. Scow Bay, which 
is on Wrangell Narrows, about 5 miles from its head, is the principal 
shipping point. Here are moored several large house scows and floats, 
alongside of which the fishing boats tie up and deliver their catch, to 
be boxed in ice for shipment and put aboard the regular steamers for 
Seattle, which pass through the Narrows every few days. The fish 
are cleaned before being delivered at the scows, and the fishermen fur- 
nish their own ice, which is secured from near-by glaciers. The dealer 
furnishes the shooks for making the boxes. The latter will hold about 
500 pounds of fish and cost 75 cents each to make. 
Halibut weighing over 80 pounds are usually fletched aboard the 
vessel by the fishermen. In this process the sides are taken off in 
two complete pieces, which are then put into bins and buried in salt 
so that the brine will run off. It usually requires about three weeks 
for the fish to strike properly. Half ground California salt is used in 
