FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. 251) 



not SO much on account of the local industry as for the fact that the 

 entire halibut fishery from Cape Flattery to Alaska centers hfere. The 

 local grounds are mainly distributed through the Strait of Juan de 

 Fuca, and from its inner entrance north to Boundary Bay and south to 

 the mouth of Hoods Canal. The most important nearby bank, however, 

 is in the open sea off Cape Flattery, and other smaller banks lie directly 

 south from there. 



With the recent increased demand for halibut, the search for more 

 extensive grounds was carried northward. The nearest one was located 

 off the northern end of Vancouver Island in the vicinity of Cape Scott, 

 but its areaiis restricted and its capacity relatively small. The most 

 important grounds so far discovered are in Hecate Strait and its vicin- 

 ity, and it is here that the principal catches have been made in recent 

 years. They consist of numerous banks and patches, generally near 

 the land, on both sides of the strait, the largest extending 60 miles 

 along the northern side of Graham Island from North Island to Rose 

 Point, and thence down the eastern side of Graham Island to the 

 vicinity of White Cliff's. Among the islands of southeastern Alaska and 

 about the southern end of Prince of Wales Island, small quantities of 

 halibut are taken, but the Alaskan region is still open to development 

 as regards this species. 



While halibut fishing has always been one of the chief occupations 

 of the Indians in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the inner sea, the 

 present status of the fishery has been the result of rapid growth dating 

 back only about ten years, or to 1888, when it received its principal 

 stimulus through the advent of two Gloucester vessels, which began 

 fishing on Flattery Bank and in the adjacent region. Although the 

 work of these vessels was not long continued, it gave evidence of 

 abundant resources and led to the opening of markets even as far 

 distant as Boston and Gloucester on the eastern coast, where the 

 western product came directly into competition with that from the 

 great Atlantic fishing grounds. 



In 1890 the total catch from all sources landed in this region amounted 

 to 1,376,800 pounds; in 1891 to 2,124,500 pounds; in 1892 to 2,768,000 

 pcmnds, and in 1895 to 4,251,000 pounds. The fleet, which had doubled 

 in four years, consisted in 1895 of 48 boats of 5 to 10 tons measure- 

 ment, of 10 vessels measuring from 18 to 40 tons, and of 3 steamers. 

 Only the larger vessels and the steamers ventured as far as Cape Scott 

 and the Queen Charlotte Islands. The steam vessels have belonged 

 entirely in British Columbia, their catch being landed at Vancouver, 

 Victoria, and Tacoma, and in 1895 having comprised a very large pro- 

 portion oi the total catch, but their operations are controlled by com- 

 panies originating in the Eastern States. 



Port Townsend was the first headquarters for the halibut fishery, 

 but during the past few years Seattle and Tacoma, with their direct 

 railroad communication, have absorbed nearly the entire business on 

 the part of United States fishermen. Within two years, however, a 



