FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
155 
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA. 
Practically nothing has yet been done toward investigating the fishery resources 
of southeastern Alaska, all of the time suitable and available for* work in northern 
latitudes since the Albatross arrived in the North Pacific Ocean having been spent off 
the southern coast of the Alaska Peninsula, in Bering Sea, and in the sealing inves- 
tigations of 1891 and 1892. During July, 1889, however, a trip was made through the 
inland passages of the southeastern part of the territory as far as Juneau, with 
several members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, who were desirous of 
inspecting the principal Indian settlements of that region. The steamer left Tacoma 
« on July 8, and returned on the 28th of the same month. Stops were made at Fort 
Tongass, Port Chester, Karta Bay, Fort Wrangell, Sitka, Pavloff Harbor, Hoonyah 
Bay, Portage Bay, Chilkat, and Juneau. Several important fishing stations and 
canneries were visited, and some investigations were also made by means of the beam 
trawl and other kinds of fishing apparatus. 
BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
On the voyages to and from Alaska the Albatross has generally made use of the 
inland passage inside of Vancouver Island; she has also often coaled at Departure 
Bay, and has made occasional visits to Victoria and to other parts of the same island. 
Opportunities have therefore been afforded, from time to time, to observe the fishery 
resources of the British Columbian coast, but comparatively little information has been 
obtained in regard to them. This subject will be discussed in part in connection with 
the State of Washington, the following notes referring mainly to the inland passage: 
Departure Bay . — The results of collecting work during July 10 and 11, 1888, 
together with notes upon the fisheries, are recorded in the Bulletin for the same year, 
pp. 51, 52. According to Mr. Alexander, the white fishermen of Departure Bay are 
exclusively Italians, whose chief occupation during the winter months is the capture 
of dogfish for their oil. Herring are also very abundant, but they are taken only in 
small quantities for the benefit of the local trade. The salmon fishery is likewise 
very limited, being followed by only a few Indians to supply their own wants and the 
small market at Nanaimo. Cod sometimes enter the bay, but they are said to be more 
plentiful in deeper water outside. They are described as small fish, averaging about 
5 pounds each in weight, and are not often fished for. 
A visit to the same place, beginning May 25, 1889, is thus described by Mr. 
Alexander: 
During the stay in port I was occupied in obtaining additional information respecting the fish- 
eries of the region. A visit was paid to Mr. Vozza, an Italian fisherman, who conducts a small fishing 
business on one of the islands in the bay. He said that the past winter had been exceptionally mild 
and consequently the fishing for dogfish much poorer than usual. These fish would visit the bay in 
large numbers during cold spells, but every time the weather moderated they immediately sought 
deeper water. It is not probable that the temperature had a direct effect upon the dogfish, but it 
influenced the presence of the herring on which they feed. The herring usually resort to Departure 
Bay during the winter in incredible numbers, and the dogfish follow them about from place to place. 
Several thousand herring were smoked by Mr. Vozza during the preceding winter, but he found no 
demand for them in Nanaimo or elsewhere. Three thousand gallons of dogfish oil were put up 
between December 1 and the last of March by two men. The usual yield for the same time is about 
5,000 gallons. Mr. Vozza says that the spring run of salmon strikes the Fraser River in March and 
remains there until the latter part of June. In July the suk-kegh salmon enter the river and con- 
tinue in it until sometime in August, after which the spring salmon return and are plentiful for three 
