FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE STEAMER ALBATROSS. 
163 
one fare of 50,000 pounds of halibut on Flattery Bank ; the fish were landed at Ta- 
coma. But little or nothing was realized from the trip. 
In the fall of 1888, several fishermen, well equipped with (lories, trawls, etc., es- 
tablished a camp in the vicinity of Neah Bay, and fished continuously throughout 
the following winter on Flattery Bank and directly off Cape Flattery. Mr. Moor, one 
of the members of this party, who came to the Pacific coast in the schooner Mollie 
Adams , has furnished a synopsis of the winter fishing. They first set trawls on 
November 23, 1888, and from that date up to January 7, 1889, succeeded in landing 
2,076 pounds of halibut and 244 pounds of cultus-cod. The average weight of the 
halibut was 37 pounds, and of the cultus-cod 24 pounds. After January 7 little was 
done, owing to the scarcity of fish and bait and the prevalence of stormy weather. 
Mr. Moor does not think it advisable to send vessels to Flattery Bank earlier than 
the 1st of March nor later than the 1st of September. He thinks that halibut are 
abundant from March to June, but they do not occur in the incredible numbers which 
have been reported from time to time. 
In November, 1888, Capt. Silas Calder, then of the Mollie Adams, made a series 
of trials for halibut on Flattery Bank, without, however, securing a single specimen. 
He is of the opinion that vessels could obtain good fares during a few months of each 
year, and might find the business profitable if there were a market for the catch. 
The yacht C. 77. White, of San Francisco, chartered in the fall of 1888 by Messrs. 
Louch and Johnson, of Seattle, obtained 100,000 pounds of halibut during three trips 
to the same bank. About 60,000 pounds were shipped fresh to New York, the re- 
mainder being smoked. 
Several interesting trips at different seasons of the year have also been made 
farther north than Flattery Bank. While the results accomplished in that direction 
are not sufficient to serve as a basis for positive conclusions regarding the abundance 
of halibut in the places visited, which undoubtedly varies at different times of the 
year, they are at least suggestive and worthy of notice in this connection. 
On July 24, 1888, the Mollie Adams left Seattle with the object of testing the 
bottom along the coast of British Columbia. Trials were made in several localities, 
but few halibut were captured until the schooner arrived off the southern extremity 
of the Queen Charlotte Islands, where they were found in greater abundance and of 
larger size than on Flattery Bank. A few of those obtained were estimated to weigh 
over 300 pounds apiece. Fishing was carried on in depths of only 30 to 45 fathoms, 
the fish taking the bait so rapidly that the trawls were left down only during the day 
time. The work continued until September 8, with slight intermissions on account 
of stormy weather. About half the halibut secured were large enough for fletching, 
the remainder being used as bait or thrown away. The total fare carried to Seattle 
amounted to 150,000 pounds. After deducting all expenses the crew received $175 
each, or at the rate of $9 a day for 19 days’ fishing. 
On January 3, 1889, the schooner Oscar and Hattie sailed from Port Townsend on 
a similar errand, but proceeded directly to Sitka, Alaska, and began fishing on the 
inshore grounds adjacent to Baranof Island, where halibut had been reported as very 
abundant. Work was continued, as the weather permitted, until March 1, but not 
enough fish were taken to keep the hooks baited. The vessel was subsequently 
shifted to deeper water off shore, but without securing any better success. Early in 
March she proceeded down the coast, fishing until June 1 in the neighborhood of the 
Queen Charlotte Islands, Cape Scott, and Hecate Channel. Halibut were more com- 
