136 American Fisheries Society 



borhood of Cape Scott, on the northern end of Vancouver 

 Island, British Columbia. Another, and for some years, 

 one of the most prolific grounds yet discovered, lies off 

 the northern end of Graham Island, between Rose Spit 

 and North Island. All along this shore, for a distance 

 of sixty miles, good fishing was found in from 25 to 40 

 fathoms for a number of years. 



The chief objection to most of these banks was that 

 they were in the vicinity of islands belonging to Canada, 

 which government, for some years, harassed our fisher- 

 men in every way possible, and as a result of this condi- 

 tion of affairs and the gradual exhaustion of the Can- 

 adian banks, our fishermen began seeking new banks in 

 Alaskan waters. Small banks lying in what are known 

 as the "protected waters," i. e., the bays, straits and 

 sounds dividing the numerous islands forming the greater 

 part of Southeast Alaska, had been fished by both whites 

 and indians for some years, but they were not prolific 

 enough to justify the larger vessels resorting to them. 

 During the winter of 1909-10 several of the steamers 

 prospected the open waters between Cape Muzon and 

 Sitka, with the result that halibut were found in great 

 abundance throughout the greater part of this area. Off 

 Forrester Island seemed to be the center of greatest 

 abundance. Here an average depth of 80 fathoms is 

 found for about four miles from shore; a little farther 

 out it deepens to 150 fathoms. The first few cargoes 

 from here averaged fifteen pounds to the fish, but the 

 average soon dropped to fourteen pounds. 



As these banks became depleted the fleet gradually 

 worked its way north and west, first off Sitka, then on 

 the Fairweather ground, then off Prince William Sound, 

 and at the present time some of the vessels fish as far 

 west as Portlock bank, near Kodiak Island. 



It is probable that ultimately the larger vessels will be 

 compelled to fish as far west as Unimak Pass. It is known 

 that halibut are to be found, supposedly in limited num- 

 bers, on the famous cod banks in the section between 

 Kodiak Island and Unimak Pass. 



