FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
261 
Atlantic fisheries, the boats were the ordinary bank dories, and the 
halibut were caught on trawl lines. 
Narrative of the fishery. — The immediate cause of the attempt to in- 
augurate the halibut fishery from Puget Sound ports was the publica- 
tion of a series of letters iu the Cape Ann Advertiser, of Gloucester, 
Mass. The writer of these letters took a very optimistic view of the 
prospects for establishing a great halibut fishery on the Pacific similar 
to that prosecuted from Gloucester. The enterprising spirit character- 
istic of New England fishermen prompted them to consider the matter 
favorably, particularly as they knew from the most reliable sources 
that halibut were abundant off Cape Flattery at certain seasons. The 
pelagic fur seal fishery was another strong inducement for the eastern 
fishermen to make the venture of sailing “ around the Horn,” for some 
believed that this offered unusual opportunities for financial success, 
while they thought the period between sealing seasons might be profit- 
ably utilized by engaging in halibut fishing. The men who entered 
upon this experiment were among the most skillful, daring, and adven- 
turous of their class, and, so far as catching fish is concerned, none could 
be found better fitted for the work. 
In the fall and early winter of 1887, three schooners sailed from 
Massachusetts for Puget Sound. These were the Mollie Adams and the 
Edward E. Webster , of Gloucester, and the Oscar and Hattie , of Swamps- 
cott. The two former were owned by Oapt. Sol. Jacobs, who, after dis- 
patching his vessels, crossed the continent in time to make necessary 
business arrangements pending their arrival. The Mojilie Adams made 
a good passage and reached her destination without mishap ; but the 
Webster met with an accident to her spars before rounding the Horn; 
put into Montevideo for repairs ; was delayed, and finally arrived on the 
west coast late in the season. During the passage out her crew suffered 
from sickness. # 
The Oscar and Hattie reached Puget Sound some time later than the 
Adams, but in time to engage in the halibut fishery, upon which she 
entered, makingher headquarters at Port Townsend. Owing to the want 
of a suitable market, and to the fact that the schooner had to go to 
Tacoma to ship her catch east, the fishery from this place was followed 
with loss rather than profit. The Oscar and Hattie carried 6 dories and 
a crew of 14 men. 
About two-thirds of the catch was sold fresh and the remainder was 
salted. The result of the season’s work in 1888 was 240,000 pounds of 
fresh and salt fish, with a value (at the prices paid the fishermen) of 
$7,000. The average price received for fresh halibut was 3 cents per 
pound, and for salt fish cents a pound. 
Captain Tanner makes the following mention of one of her early trips 
for fresh halibut in 1888: 
A fare of 50,000 pounds of fresh halibut was recently taken to Tacoma, Washington, 
by the schooner Oscar and Hattie , this being the lirst cargo landed and shipped from 
