CEUISE OF THE S;rEAMEE COEWIN. 25 



subject are quite enthusiastic, aud there is uo doubt that in a short time the cod-fishery will be 

 holding its owu with the salmon on this coast. 



The following letter from the McCoUam Company will convey some idea of the extent of the 

 enterprise : 



"Office of McCollam Fishing and Trading Company, 



" San Francisco, October 21, 1884. 



" Dear Sir : Eeferring to your inquiry as to the amount of cod fishing carried on in the vicinity 

 of the Alaskan peninsula, we would say, that at our fishing and trading station on Choumagin 

 Islands (Pirate Cove) we have ten men regularly employed; also two small schooners trading and 

 fishing in the vicinit}', provisions, gear, salt, etc., going up and fish being carried down on the 

 schooner Czar (140 tons), which makes three trips each year between this port and our station. 

 There have also been two schooners belonging to another firm, and carrying about sixteen men 

 each, fishing at the Choumagin Islands this season. 



" We had in the Bering Sea the bark H. W. Almy (314 tons) fishing on the northern shore of 

 the peninsula. She carries a crew of thirty-five men and has capacity for three hundred tons of 

 cod. These comprise the codfish fleet in Alaskan waters for the season of 1884. 



"Of the eleven vessels comprising the Okhotsk Sea fleet, owned by ourselves and others, not 

 one got a full fare this season, while the H. W. Almy nearly filled herself in the Bering Sea, 

 besides sending down sixteen thousand fish by the schooner Czar. 



" We therefore look for an accession to the Bering Sea fleet next year. The Bering Sea is 

 mucli nearer to this port than the Okhotsk Sea and the fish are of superior quality, but so little 

 is known of the fishing banks that owners have preferred sending to the Okhotsk, which has never 

 failed before, to risking a broken voyage in the comparatively unknown Alaskan waters. 



"The codfish found so far have been in spots, and although well-defined banks undoubtedly 

 exist, they have never been prospected as thoroughly as they should be. The coast, too, is so 

 little known that vessels are obliged to proceed with extreme caution, especially during the foggy 

 weather, prevailing a great part of the summer. Should the opportunity present, we would 

 respectfully suggest that soundings be made, with a view of locating shoals and cod-banks in and 

 about the Bering Sea, and suitable harbors and anchorages where vessels might water up in the 

 vicinity. 



" There is considerable capital employed in the business at this port and it is steadily increas- 

 ing. Our company alone emi^loys one hundred and twenty-five fishermen during the season and 

 from forty-five to seventy-five during the greater part of the year at our curing establishment at 

 Pescada Lauding, near San Francisco. 



"There are two other firms employing nearly as many men, and should new and profitable 

 grounds be discovered nearer than the Asiatic shore the business would be considerably extended. 



" In closing permit us to thank you for the information given us which you obtained on your 

 last cruise, and for the use of charts recently made by you. 

 " Very respectfully, yours, 



"The McCollam Fishing and Trading Company, , 



"Per C. P. Overton, Secretary. 

 «Capt. M. A. Healy, 



" Commanding U. S. Revenue Steamer Cortvin.^'' 



The following are some of the cod-fishing statistics in Alaskan waters: 

 Lynde & Hough, Front street, near Pacific: 



1883. Schooner Hancocli, 1G5 tons. 



1884. Schooner Eancoch, 0G,677 fish. 

 1884. Schooner Dashing Wave, 85,000 fish. 



The gentlemen state the business to be profitable and intend to continue and increase facilities. 

 McCollam Fishing and Trading Company : 



1884. Fishing station. Pirate Cove, 279,000 fish. 



1884. Bark Helen Almy, Behring Sea, 202,000 fish. 

 Anderson & Co. : 



1884. Schooner Isabel, Behring Sea, 90,000 fish. 



