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A Growing Industry. 
The halibut industry on the Pacific Coast had its inception 
about twenty years ago, and for many years it languished, as there 
was but a limited local demand, and the existing means of transport 
did not permit shipment to the Eastern markets which, moreover, 
were then well supplied from the Atlantic fisheries. But conditions 
changed, the centres of population moved Westward, the Atlantic 
catch declined, the cold storage system and fast freight service 
came into use, and Pacific halibut became a leading feature in the 
fresh fish markets of the East. The Atlantic halibut banks, fished 
over for a century, seem to be threatened with depletion, judging 
from the rapid decline in production during the past five years. 
In 1899, the Atlantic catch amounted to 9,025,182 pounds; in 1902, 
it had decreased to 4,067,867 pounds, and in 1908 had fallen off to 
1,690,478 pounds. 
On the Pacific Coast, the history of the industry is reversed, 
for the production rose from 6,877,640 pounds in 1899, to 
17,512,555 pounds in 1908, over ten times the total Atlantic catch. 
The bulk of the halibut fishing is done by vessels outfitted at 
Seattle and Tacoma, in the State of Washington, but a great deal 
of their fishing is done in Canadian waters—notably in Hecate 
Strait—and one big concern, the New England Fish Co., operating 
four large steamers from Vancouver, B. C., is credited annually 
with at least one-half of the whole catch. This company has a 
special arrangement with the Dominion Government, whereby it is 
permitted to fish in Canadian waters and ship its catch in a 
Canadian port. Recently, some of the Canadian firms engaged in 
halibut fishing entered a protest against the continuance of this 
special privilege to an alien corporation, and the authorities at 
Ottawa have also been asked to deal with a firmer hand with the 
United States poachers, who are alleged to have contravened the 
law for years by fishing in Canadian waters. 
Flounders. 
Many members of the halibut family, coming under the name 
of flounders, are found in these waters, all possessing more or less 
value as food fishes. Certain kinds of these fish are locally known 
as “turbot,” while others are sold as “soles,” though authorities 
on the subject maintain that there are no true turbot or soles in 
the North Pacific. The catch of these fishes is limited to the local 
demand. Among the varieties are the following: Large-eyed 
flounder, large-scaled flounder, hook-toothed flounder, long-finned 
