7 -NOTES ON THE HALIBUT FISHERY OF THE NORTHWEST COAST IN 1895. 
By A. B. ALEXANDER, Fishery Expert, Steamer Albatross. 
The halibut fishery of the northwest coast has developed into an industry of 
considerable importance, there being double the number of vessels engaged in it that 
there Avere four years ago. The demand for this fish five years ago was mostly limited 
to local orders; now large shipments are made to all parts of the West. For the past 
two winters important shipments have been made to the Atlantic Coast by Canadian 
fishermen. The American catch finds a market in the States west of the Mississippi 
River. There being less demand for halibut in summer, the Canadian vessels continue 
in the fishery only a part of the year. 
In 1890 there were landed at various points on Puget Sound 740,000 pounds of 
halibut, valued at $16,750. In 1891 the amount increased to 994,000 pounds, valued 
at $23,620, and in 1892 to 1,410,000 pounds, representing a value of $29,140. The 
amount caught continues to increase yearly. From estimates made by wholesale 
dealers and fishermen it is safe to say that about 2,500,000 pounds were landed in 
Puget Sound in 1895. Two-thirds of this amount were taken in northern waters on 
banks off Cape Scott, Vancouver Island, Rose Point, and North Island, which lie off 
the northern end of Queen Charlotte Island. 
For several winters past, one and sometimes two steam vessels have fished for 
halibut on the northern banks, sailing from Vancouver, British Columbia. At first the 
enterprise was not very successful, owing to the limited demaud for halibut and also 
to the inexperience of the fishermen. But it did not take long to find the best fishing- 
grounds, and much valuable time was thus saved. The success of these vessels caused 
dealers and fishermen of the East to become interested, and soon their capital was 
invested, and in the winter of 1895-96 three steam vessels were fishing for halibut on 
the northern banks. Two sailed from Vancouver and one from Victoria. At Vancouver 
the fishery is under the management of Americans and is controlled by American 
capital. It is estimated that the catch of these vessels was nearly half that of the 
American fleet, or about 1,000,000 pounds, nearly all of which was exported to the 
United States. Fish landed at Victoria was shipped to Tacoma ; that which came into 
Vancouver was shipped east over the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and distributed over 
the Eastern States. 
When this fishery began on the Pacific Coast, Port Townsend was its center, on 
account of having better harbor accommodations than most places on Puget Sound, 
but for the past few years Tacoma and Seattle, chiefly the latter, have absorbed the 
business. This was brought about by their having much better shipping facilities 
and a larger population. Now only an occasional fare is landed at Port Townsend. 
At one time there were three wholesale and retail fish-dealers here, but during the 
past year there has been only one. 
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