ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS; ALASKA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON. 
59 
by the more abundant and more highly prized salmon. The fishing fleet consists of a 
few small vessels and boats, manned chiefly by Italians and Greeks. 
THE BESHOWE, OR BLACK COD. 
In October the naturalists had an opportunity of examining some of the so-called 
“black cod,” or “beshowe,” of the Indians, which had been recently landed by the 
fishing schooner Theresa.^ of Victoria. They were in pickle, and had been split down 
the back in precisely the same manner in which mackerel are dressed on the Atlantic 
coast. It is difficult to explain the reasons for having adopted this method of prepa- 
ration. The labor of caring for a cargo of these fish in such a manner must have been 
very great, as the hard, bony head of the beshowe must interfere greatly with the oper- 
ations of the splitter, which is not the case with the mackerel. This successful trij) 
of the Theresa has occasioned renewed interest in this valuable species of food-fish, 
concerning which so much has been written during recent years, and several of those 
engaged in the fishing business at Victoria think seriously of immediately fitting out 
vessels for their capture. The Theresa fished in a depth of 210 fathoms, about -3 miles 
off the Queen Charlotte Islands, with a trawl line furnished with two hundred hooks. 
A part of the cargo was purchased from the Indians at the rate of 25 cents per fish. 
The entire fare brought in consisted of nearly three thousand beshowe, many of which 
weighed from 20 to 25 pounds each. 
The Portland Oregonian, in speaking of this trip, says: 
The return of the schooner Theresa from the black-cod banks with a full catch has determined a 
number of others to engage in the fisheries. Epicures pronounce these fish delicious — superior to shad 
and infinitely superior to the tomcod. Consignments will soon be forwarded to eastern markets. 
On the trip above described the Theresa had an Indian crew. She afterwards left 
on a second cruise with Newfoundland fishermen, and better results were expected. 
In 1884 considerable interest was evinced in British Columbia respecting the 
beshowe, and several vessels were fitted out to go north. Little or nothing was accom- 
plished, however, as those who were willing to engage in the business had no capital, 
and those who had did not care to risk it. The great depth at which these fish gen- 
erally live, 150 to 200 fathoms, has undoubtedly had much to do with hindering the 
establishment of this industry, as the northwestern coast fishermen have never been 
obliged to go beyond a depth of 50 fathoms for their cod and halibut, and are totally 
unused to deep-water fishing. 
i8. OFF CAPE FLATTERY. 
SOUNDING, DREDGING, AND TRIALS FOR FISH. 
The region defined . — Under this title we include the outer coast from Flattery 
Kocks north to latitude 49° N., and the waters lying at the mouth of the Straits of 
Fuca. 
Hydrographic worTc . — As the region above defined had already been surveyed to a 
sufficient extent for the imrposes of this preliminary investigation, sounding opera- 
tions were omitted by the steamer Albatross.! excepting to the south of Cape Flattery. 
These soundings, however, having reference mainly to supposed off-shore banks, their 
discussion is deferred to the next section. 
