472 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
COASTS OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON. 
San Francisco to Departure Bay and Frazer River. — Leaving San Fran- 
cisco on the same day, we proceeded directly to Departure Bay, Van- 
couver Island, tor the purpose of coaling, arriving there May 25. Dur- 
ing the stay in port 1 was occupied in obtaining additional information 
respecting the fisheries of the region.* A visit was paid to Mr. Vozza, 
an Italian fisherman, who conducts a small fishing business on one of 
the islands in the bay. He said that the past winter had been excep- 
tionally mild and consequently the fishing for dogfish much poorer than 
usual. These fish would visit the bay in large numbers during cold 
spells, but every time the weather moderated they immediately sought 
deeper water. It is not probable that the temperature had a direct 
effect upon the dogfish, but it influenced the presence of the herring on 
Which they feed. The herring usually resort to Departure Bay during 
the winter in incredible numbers, and the dogfish follow them about 
from place to place. Several thousand herring were smoked by Mr. 
Vozza during the preceding winter, but he found no demand for them 
in Nanaimo or elsewhere. Three thousand gallons of dogfish oil were 
put up between December 1 and the last of March by two men. The 
usual yield for the same time is about 5,000 gallons. 
Mr. Vozza says that the spring run of salmon strikes that river in 
March and remains there until the latter part of June. In July the 
suk-kegh salmon enter the river and continue in it until sometime in 
August, after which the spring salmon return and are plentiful for three 
or four weeks. A form called “ cohoes v by the natives predominates 
during September, and in October there are several species running. 
There are now fifteen canneries on the river, three having been built 
during the present season. The sizes of mesh in the salmon nets are 
6, 7|, and 8 inches. The 6-inch mesh is used for the suk-kegh salmon. 
About 2,000 men are engaged in the fishery this year. 
Halibut fishing , Washington to Sitka , Alaska. —From Departure Bay we 
proceeded to Seattle, Washington. In this city Messrs. Louch and John- 
son started a wholesale and retail fish establishment in the fall of 1888, 
investing $20,000 in buildings and equipment. The yacht G. H. White , 
of San Francisco, was chartered by them, and has made three trips to 
Cape Flattery Bank, taking in all 100,000 pounds of halibut. About 
60,000 pounds were shipped fresh to New York, but transportation rates 
were so high that nothing was realized from the venture. The remain- 
der were smoked and put up in boxes of 30 pounds each. Mr. John 
Crosgrove, of Gloucester, Mass., superintended the shipping and smok- 
ing of these fish. Hickory and alder wood and corn cobs were employed 
as fuel for the smoking, and the prepared fish were equal in appearance 
and flavor to those treated in the same manner in Gloucester. There is 
said, however, to be one defect in the halibut taken on this coast for the 
* For the account of a former visit see U. S. F. C. Bulletin for 1888, pages 51, 52. 
