250 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
map, from off Cape Flattery aud Cape Beall (Vancouver Island), in the 
Strait of Juan de Fuca and in Puget Sound. 
Captain Tanner makes the following reference to the halibut grounds 
resorted to by vessels from Puget Sound ports: 
The nearest hank to Paget Sound, where halibut are abundant, is located off Cane 
Flattery at the mouth of the Straits of Fuca, and extends from close inshore to some 
12 or 15 miles off the cape, in depths of water ranging from 35 to 75 fathoms. From 
early in the spring until the middle of June halibut can be obtained on these grounds 
in paying quantities, but later in the season dogfish and sharks strike in, driving 
nearly all the edible fish away. During the summer more northern localities would 
have to be resorted to. This information is based upon the statements of Capt. Silas 
Calder, commanding the schooner Mollie Adams, and at the time this region was ex- 
amined by the Albatross the dogfish were found in full possession of all the important 
grounds. 
Alexander thinks that the abundance of halibut, and the importance 
of the fishing grounds where this species can be taken have been over- 
estimated. While he believes it possible that halibut may occasionally 
be found in great abundance, the researches of the Albatross have not 
led to the Conclusion that they are generally very numerous. Scatter- 
ing halibut were found about Middleton Island, the Shumagin Group, 
and Kodiak, but there was nothing to justify the belief that vessels 
could easily obtain fares at either of these places. The vessels engaged 
in the halibut fishery that have made their headquarters at Puget Sound 
ports have extended their cruises to more distant grounds, in many 
instances going as far as Alaska. 
The principal grounds for salmon and rockfish are in Puget Sound and 
Washington Sound. The location is indicated on the map by the letters 
“ S” and “ R.” The most important fishing grounds for trout and smelt 
are in the southern section of Puget Sound. The grounds resorted to 
for pelagic fur-sealing are the same as have been mentioned in connec- 
tion with the fisheries of San Francisco. 
It can scarcely be said that there are now any whaling grounds. 
Whales are rarely taken, and then only incidentally by the Indians and 
never for commercial purposes. 
THE FUR-SEAL AND SEA-OTTER FISHERIES. 
Among the sea-fishing enterprises carried on from Puget Sound, 
pelagic fur-sealing has attracted considerable attention of late, both 
because of the financial hazard involved (for few fisheries are more 
uncertain as to results) and the fact that vessels, catch, and all have 
sometimes been placed in jeopardy by the fishermen venturing to 
push their hunt into the waters of Bering Sea, from which they were 
excluded by law. Sometimes a “lucky w vessel has secured large re- 
turns for the capital invested and time employed, but quite as often the 
financial results have not been very profitable. However, the hope of 
being the “lucky one” tempts many to engage in the business from 
