160 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Mr. Alexander states that — 
There are a few fishermen about Port Townsend and Victoria who fish for halibut and dogfish the 
greater part of the year. One of these, Mr. Isaac Bakman, with whom I conversed, stated that he did 
not think that halibut were ever abundant enough in the Straits of Fuca to warrant vessels of large 
size engaging in the business. In April, 1888, Mr. Bakman secured in different parts of the straits 
4,500 pounds of halibut, for which he received from 2 to 3 cents per pound. These spring fish have 
been very scarce, and not enough have been caught to pay expenses. 
During the winter of 1888-89, three men were fishing for cod in Puget Sound with 
gill nets and trawl lines. No large quantities of these fish were caught, but many 
flounders and a few halibut were taken on the trawls. The cod are obtained in all 
depths from 5 fathoms downwards, the deepest water in which gill nets have been set 
being 150 fathoms, off Quartermaster Harbor, near the head of Puget Sound. In this 
region both the Gadus morrhua and the cultus-cod ( Ophiodon elongatus) are known 
under the name of cod. 
Flattery Bank . — This bank, which constitutes one of the most important fishing- 
grounds on the Pacific coast south of British Columbia, is located to the northwest- 
ward of Cape Flattery, on the northern side of the deep-water area (from 100 to 200 
fathoms) at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is mostly confined within 
the 50-fathom curve adjacent to the coast of Vancouver Island, and lies directly off 
the entrance to Nitinat Lake, but it is also continuous with that part of the continental 
platform inside of the 100-fathom curve which skirts the outer coast of Washington, 
although depths of nearly 100 fathoms intervene. Flattery Bank has long been 
resorted to by the Indians, but, while large quantities of halibut and of other fishes 
have been taken from it in times past, the first extensive commercial fishery there was 
attempted about 1888. 
As the hydrography of the bank had previously been determined with sufficient 
accuracy for fishery purposes, the investigations of the Albatross were limited for the 
most part to dredging and fishing trials. The first visit was paid to it in September, 
1888, the inquiries being begun on the southeastern part of the bank, nearest Cape 
Flattery, and being carried thence to the neighborhood of Barclay Sound, Vancouver 
Island. The second and last examination was made in June, 1889. The entire area 
of the bank has not yet been surveyed and its extreme limits are, therefore, still 
unknown. The depths may be said to range from 27 to about 75 fathoms. The bottom 
varies exceedingly in character, consisting of rocks, sand, mud, and shells, and in some 
places being very rough and irregular. It supports a very rich fauna, which fits it 
especially as a feeding-ground for fishes. 
Capt. Tanner assigns to this bank a total areaof about 1, LOO square miles. The least 
depth of water, 27 fathoms, was found at its southeastern extremity, 11 miles W. by 
N. (magnetic) from Cape Flattery light house. Halibut occur most abundantly on 
the same part of the bank, over an exceedingly rough, rocky bottom, having an area 
of about 35 square miles. From early in the spring until the middle of June this 
species can be obtained on Flattery Bank in paying quantities, but later in the season 
dogfish and sharks strike in, driving a majority of the edible fishes away. 
The dredging and fishing trials by the Albatross were as follows: 
Three dredging stations (2873 to 2875, inclusive) were made on September 24, 1888, 
at distances of 10 to 12 miles northwesterly from Cape Flattery, the depths ranging 
from 27 to 40 fathoms, and all varieties of bottom being found. The first trial was 
with the beam trawl in 40 fathoms, but it caught upon the bottom and was badly 
