66 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
PKOSPECTS OF A HALIBUT FISHERY SOUTH OF CAPE FLATTERY. 
In a conference with Captain Tanner, Judge James G. Swan, of Port Townsend, 
stated that his knowledge of the Indian tribes and their habits has led him to believe 
that halibut will not be found in paying quantities south of Cape Flattery. It was, he 
said, a time-honored custom for the tribes living as far south as Flattery Eocks to go 
to Cape Flattery every spring for their winter’s supply of halibut, which were taken 
on the well-known bank, from 9 to 12 miles west-northwest (magnetic) from Tatoosh 
Island. 
Halibut have seldom been taken south of Cape Flattery, and never, to his knowl- 
edge, south of Flattery Eocks. They form no part of the winter’s food of the tribes 
inhabiting that part of the coast, rock cod, surf smelt, tomcod, salmon, etc., consti- 
tuting the staple supply. He thinks if halibut existed near the shore the Indians 
would have known it, aud, like the tribes further north, have taken them for winter’s 
use. He predicted that the Albatross would find a clean sand bottom, with very little 
life, between Cape Flattery aud Gray’s Harbor. 
Judge Swan has lived for many years on different parts of the coast between Gray’s 
Harbor aud Neeah Bay, and having paid close attention to the subject his opinions 
are worthy of every consideration. While a few halibut were subsequently taken by 
the Albatross south of Cape Flattery, as mentioned elsewhere, there are no indications 
that they occur in quantities sufficient to pay lor their exclusive capture. 
20. SHOALWATER BAY, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, TO TILLAMOOK ROCK, 
OREGON. 
EXPLORATIONS. 
Hydrographic zcorZc.— The Albatross returned to the neighborhood of Shoal water 
Bay October 11, aud began sounding in 20 fathoms 10^ miles S. 32° W. from the light- 
house at the entrance to that bay. From this point a line was run S. 78° W. 20 miles, 
sounding in 38, 51, 153, aud 432 fathoms; S. 68° E., 15 miles, in 98, 55, and 40 fathoms ; 
S. 78° W. 15 miles, in 60, 78, and 260 fathoms. The last line was only a short distance 
north of the latitude of the entrance to Columbia Eiver. 
Stormy weather interrupted operations during the 12th, but on the 13th three 
nearly parallel lines of soundings, at right angles to the coast, were made in the region 
off the mouth of the Columbia Eiver between the latitudes of Cape Disappointment and 
Tillamook Eock. The northern line began 12f miles E. 78° W. of Cape Disappointment 
in 81 fathoms, and extended 20 miles S. 78° W., with soundings in 231, 421, 475, and 
506 fathoms ; the southern began at a point 16J miles N. 64° W. from Tillamook Light, 
and extended 15 miles S. 72° W., with soundings in 73, 82, 96, and 199 fathoms. By 
reference to the chart of this region it will be observed that the soundings on the 
former line show depths two or three times greater than those in similar positions on 
adjacent lines 7 or 8 miles distant, both to the north and south. The great sub- 
marine trough thus indicated is probably the ancient bed of the Columbia Eiver. 
Dredgings and trials for fish . — At station 2882, about 27 miles directly off the 
mouth of the Columbia Eiver, a cast of the beam trawl was made and the trawl line 
was set in a depth of 68 fathoms, gray sandy bottom. On the latter only one beshowe 
