264 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
had negotiated with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to transport her cargo 
across the continent to Gloucester, Mass., at the rate of $1.25 per cwt. Immediately 
upon her arrival the rate was increased to $1.40 per cwt., which rendered it very 
doubtful if anything could be realized upon the trip ; but the company was finally 
prevailed upon to return to its earlier figure, and the shipment was accordingly made. 
The cost of discharging, packing, and shipping the cargo amounted to $1,950. After 
deducting expenses the members of the crew received $175 each, or at the rate of $9 
a day for 19 days’ fishing. 
Captain Jacobs is considering the expediency of converting the Mollie Adams into 
a steamer. Shorter passages to and from the grounds could be made under steam, 
especially during the summer when calms and light, variable winds prevail in this 
region. The amount of time that could be saved iu that way would amply repay the 
cost of altering the vessel. 
During 1889 a Seattle firm chartered a San Francisco vessel of 87 
tons, and kept her constantly employed in halibut fishing during the 
summer. Her catch was lauded at Seattle and sold locally or shipped 
to markets within easy reach. 
Disposition of products, difficulties, etc . — The successful establishment 
of a fishing industry depends on the demand for the products, facilities 
for transportation, and the proper utilization of all available resources 
for placing the goods upon the market under the most favorable condi- 
tions, particularly if there is sharp competition. This applies with 
special force to the Pacific halibut fishery. 
The comparative sparseness of population on the Pacific Slope, the 
fact that no proper effort had been made to introduce fresh halibut 
there as a desirable article of fish food, and that no attempt (at least 
no successful attempt) had been made on the west coast to smoke salt 
halibut, naturally compelled the fishermen to look to the East for a 
market. Thus, they had to ship, at great expense, cargoes of fresh 
halibut to New York, whence the products were distributed to various 
sections of the country, probably in some cases being sent west nearly 
half way back to the point from which they originally started. Some 
of the fish, particularly the earliest shipments, reached their destina- 
tion in good condition and sold at remunerative prices. Other cargoes 
arrived on an overstocked market, and had to be disposed of at rates 
that gave unprofitable returns, while some shipments were not in good 
condition when they were received at New York, and proved a total 
loss to the fishermen. 
The claim has been made that the financial results of these •shipments 
were often, if not generally, unfavorably affected by a strong combina- 
tion of Eastern fish-dealers, who, it was believed, manipulated the 
market so that the Pacific halibut should be placed at a disadvantage. 
This, added to the excessive freight charges for transportation across 
the continent, and other incidental expenses, practically placed it beyond 
the power of the fishermen to compete single-handed against the 
Atlantic halibut fishery, especially as the conditions for prosecuting 
the halibut fishery in the Pacific (except the abundance of fish) are less 
favorable than on the Atlantic. Captain Joshua Brown, owner of the 
