416 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
COASTS OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON. 
Departure Bay to Seattle, Washington . — Leaving port at 7 a. m., Sep- 
tember 5, we steamed to the southward and eastward through mist and 
rain, until 10:55, when the trawl was cast, No. 2863, in 67 fathoms, 
making a successful haul. Resuming our course, we passed Rosario 
Straits and at 5:25 p. m. anchored in Burrows Bay for the night. It 
is a good harbor, and is protected from all but southerly winds. We 
were under way at 6:05 the following morning, and at 7:15 cast the trawl 
in 48 fathoms, No. 2864, making another successful haul. A third 
cast was made at 8:55 in 40 fathoms, No. 2865, and a fair haul taken, 
although the trawl capsized and was dragged bottom up, the first time 
that had happened for several years. Steaming ahead as soon as the 
trawl was landed, we passed Point No Point at meridian and anchored 
off Seattle, Washington, at 2:45 p. in., September 6. I called on tbe 
mayor, Robert Moran, on the 7th, and the call was returned the follow- 
ing day by the mayor and city council, who inspected the vessel and 
her equipment and expressed great interest in our work. 
Outer coast of Washington . — We left Seattle at 10:40 a. m., September 
17, and anchored in Port Townsend at 3:45 p. m. I met Judge James 
G. Swan the following morning, and had a conference with him regard- 
ing the fisheries of Washington and other matters connected with our 
work. He had lived many years on the coast between Gray’s Harbor 
and Neeah Bay, and from close observation had acquired a remarkable 
knowledge of the fauna of this region. His information respecting tbe 
Indian tribes and their habits has led him to believe that halibut will 
not be found in paying quantities south of Cape Flattery. It was, he 
said, a time-honored custom for the tribes living as far south as Flat- 
tery Rocks to go to Cape Flattery every spring for their winter’s supply 
of halibut, which were taken on the well-known bank from 9 to 12 
miles WNW. (magnetic) from Tatoosh Island. Halibut have seldom 
been taken south of Cape Flattery, and never, to his knowledge, south 
of Flattery Rocks. They form no part of the winter’s food of tribes 
inhabiting that part of the coast, rock-cod, surf smelt, tomcod, salmon, 
etc., being the staple supply. He thinks that if halibut existed near 
the shore the Iudiaus would have known it and, like the tribes farther 
north, would have taken them for winter use. He predicted that we 
would find a clean sand bottom with very little life between Cape Flat- 
tery and Gray’s Harbor. 
The Coast Survey steamer McArthur arrived during the afternoon 
and permitted us to copy their soundings about Cape Flattery, a saving 
of time and labor, as we would have been obliged to sound over a por- 
tion of the same ground. 
We were under way at 5:45 p. m. September 18, passed Cape Flat- 
tery at 2 a. m. the following morning, and at 5:30 commenced a line of 
soundings in 82 fathoms, S. 68° W., 10 miles from the light. It was ex- 
tended 65 miles S.68° W., sounding at intervals of 5 miles, to develop 
