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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The only evidence of civilization about the sound was the light-house on Cape 
Beale, the Indian villages being mostly abandoned, and the occupants gone to the 
salmon canneries in the interior. Several canoe-loads were seen passing, a few came 
alongside, and occasionally one was seen trolling for salmon. 
GENERAL RESULTS OF TRIALS FOR FISH ON THIS COAST. 
After the numerous trials made for halibut on this part of the coast, both with 
trawl lines and hand lines, It became evident that sharks and dogfish had taken pos- 
session of the fishing banks at this season to the exclusion of food-fishes, while in the 
spring and early summer, when halibut are abundant, only a few of these pests are 
found. There has been no fall fishing heretofore, and consequently it is not known 
when the sharks and dogfish leave the grounds, and the halibut and other food-fishes 
return to them. 
SEALING AND HALIBUT TRIPS BY GLOUCESTER VESSELS OFF CAPE FLATTERY, ETC. 
The halibut fishery of the northwestern coast is destined to become an important 
industry. Until a year ago halibut were taken in this region only in small quan- 
tities to supply the local markets, and the fishery was carried on exclusively with 
open boats. Within the past year two or three large vessels from the Gloucester 
fishing fleet have obtained successful fares upon the Pacific grounds off Cape Flat- 
tery, shipping large cargoes of fresh fish by railroad to the markets of the Eastern 
States. With proper management this industry might have a rapid growth. 
Halibut grounds. — The nearest bank to Puget Sound, where halibut are abundant, 
is located off Cape Flattery at the mouth of the Straits of Fuca, and extends from 
close in shore to some 12 or 15 miles off the cape, in depths of water ranging from 35 
to 75 fathoms. From early in the spring until the middle of June halibut can be 
obtained on these grounds in paying quantities, but later in the season dogfish and 
sharks strike in, driving nearly all the edible fish away. During the summer more 
northern localities would have to be resorted to. This information is based upon the 
statements of Oapt. Silas Calder, commanding the schooner MolUe Adams, and at the 
time this region was examined by the Albatross, the dogfish were found in full pos- 
session of all the important grounds. 
A sealing voyage. — Shortly after her arrival in Puget Sound, tho, Mollie Adams was 
fitted out for a sealing voyage. She carried twelve sealing boats and a crew of twenty- 
six men, composed of fishermen from Gloucester, and sealers from Newfoundland. 
The boats were built by Higgins & Gifford, of Gloucester, Mass. Seven hundred seals 
were captured during the trip, the most of them having been obtained in the vicinity 
of Cape Flattery. Some bad weather was experienced, and on several occasions the 
water was so rough that other sealers (from San Francisco) cruising in the same 
vicinity did not venture to lower their boats. Not a day was lost, however, by the 
MolUe Adams, whose sailors were accustomed to the greater hardships of the North 
Atlantic. The next highest fare taken by other vessels during the same period 
amounted to two hundred and fifty seals. 
Fresh- halibut trips. — After disposing of her cargo of seals, the MolUe Adams at 
once refitted for the fresh-halibut fishery, and made four trips in quick succession, 
landing 145,000 pounds of halibut, the stock of which amounted to $3,000, the crew 
