THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OP ALASKA. 
45 
FISHING AND COLLECTING BY THE ALBATROSS. 
During the cruise, tisliiug by the ship’s force with gill nets, seines, trawls, haiul 
lines, etc., was carried on whenever an opportunity offered. As the instructions also 
called for information relating to halibut, ffshing efforts were largely in that direction. 
With gill nets we were only successful at Wrangell (mouth of the Stikine River), 
Uganuk, Yakutat, and Redflsh Bay, localities where the water was not clear. We 
took the first Dolly Varden trout (Salvelinus malma), on June 10 at Metlakahtla, and 
the first redfish at Karta Bay June 2G. At Thorne Bay, on July 5, we took 78 redfish 
with an average weight of 6 pounds, and S3 Dolly Varden trout averaging IJ imunds 
in weight. At Wrangell, in the discolored water, on July 7 we took a number of king 
and dog salmon and redfish iu the same gill net. 
Cleauing halibut on deck of steamer Albatross, near Killisnoo. 
HALIBUT. 
The halibut trawls were set iu all localities and every effdrt made not only to find 
halibut banks by our own resources, but inquiry was made at every iioint relating to 
this subject. The investigations confirm the views of those whom I believe competent 
to judge, and that is that in southeast Alaska, on the American side of Dixon 
Entrance, there are no halibut banks for commercial purposes. Halibut were usually 
taken wherever we went, but nowhere in large numbers except oft Killisnoo. 
On the southern side of Dixon Entrance, on the plateau of the Queen Charlotte 
Islands, iu the vicinity of Rose Spit and in Hecate Straits, there is comparatively 
shoal water — that is, under 50 fathoms; in these localities halibut are obtained in 
considerable numbers throughout the winter months when they are desired in Puget 
Sound for eastern shipment. In the spring and summer halibut are found scattering 
