The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-06-19
THE AMERICAN PACIFIC SEA
H1SHERIES.

ne sea Hsleries OF tnc NOTtn racine
are destined to become very valuable,
and the time has come for the Ameri-
cans to consider whether they shall take
the bulk of the business or whether il
shall be left for the British Columbians,
the Russians in Manchooril and Kam>
schatka, the japanese. or the Chinese.
The most valuable fishing grounds are
the cod banks near the coast of Alaska.
and the following description of them
is given on page l9l OF the sixth edition
OF "Hittelrs Resources Of California :"
The principal fishing grounds are off
the Fox Islands. the Choumagin Islands
and Koliak, and feM boats have gone
to the Ckbotsk. A: large part Of the
ocean near our rev possessions offers a
fine field for fishing. but the depth of
water has been examined at compare
, lively few places. OFF the Cboum ,gin
Islands there is bank, and the depth
at q distance Of 3j miles is from 40 to
80 fathoms Fifty miles south, SO west
Of the most southernmcst point Of the
Choumagin, there is bank Of ~ faith
oms Along the southeastern coast OF
Afognak aud Kodiak, there is baak Of
As fathoms, but east Of ST. Psul's there
is a pocket" with 80 fathoms. South
by east, 1 miles from the easternmost
point of Trinity Islands. there Is a Lauk
with fifty fathorns. Half way between
Trinity Island and Oukanok. soundings
gave So fathoms East OF the south
end Of Nuiniak Island, distant % miles.
the water IS so fathoms. and 10 miles
further east, 40 fathoms deep. Nine
miles southeast from the Sannach Reef.
| in latitude "a 90, longitude 1922 80.
bottom Is found in 3j fathoms. In lat
itudc $50 81, and longitude l64 TO-,
soundinss are obtained in 30 fa,homs.
In the eastern part of Behring's Sea,
there is cod bank with an area of 49,
900 square miles and o depth OF less
than 30 fathoms.
Ia fact, the com parative sh .llown, ss
Of the greater portion Of the ocean near
the A!eution Islands and Behring' S
Strait. gives great Importance to the
sea fisheries of the North Pacific.
These banks are about $500 mile'
northwcs.watl from San Francisco
! alb N. 1900 westward from Victoria and
Sitks. aud 5000 miles from japan ant
Msnchooria They are considerably
farther from the ccnters # population
on cur ocean than the banks OF New.
foundland are from Massachusetts,. No.
via Scotia. Norway, Great Britain and
France. But this distance is small
consideration. relatively. There are
numerous advantages and disadvantages
to be found on each side, in compaIi-
son between the cod banks of Alaska
and Newfoundland. but they have not
yc. been studied sutiic iently to enable
US to dccidelupon them with confidence.
We need not hesitate, however. To
assert that the banks Of Alaska Will
give occupation to thousands Of men,
educate many thousand Of skilltul sail
ors, make demand for fishing vessels
and add much to the wealth of the
country that has most of the fishermen
We see no good reason why tho sea
fisheries of the North Pacific should not
be as productive as those Of the North
Atlantic. and they employ more than
| 900. 900 men and 10000 vessels. and
their annual catch is worth $4,000, 900
!
Norway employs 5000 vessels-most Of
them small-and their annual product
is "a .00O tons. The British aud Amer
lean catch each amounts to 10000 tons,
and the French to so, 900 tons. making
a total catch Of about 225 900 tons. The
herring fishery Of Great Britain yields
81. 50o. 900 annually, and that OF Ireland
81 100000. Norway gets 100000 tons
Of herrings. France $4,000, and Holland
35 900. in averace years England gets
1000 tons Of pichards. and France
exports sardiues to the value of So .000.-
600. besides using large quantities fol
home consumption.
Between Behring's Strait and MazAt.
Ian there arc many places where the
cod. balibut, mackerel. sardine. herring
smelt, ancaovy and other fishes, can be
found in abundance. and not one has
received the attention it deserves. Some
are entirely neglected others are nto
caught with any regularity. save in or
near our Bay. for the purpose of supply
ing our city market with fresh fish.
The time is. perhaps. not far distant
when large quantities Of fresh cod, hal
ibut, sun-fish and mackcrel will be
brought to San Francisco, with profit.
We send to Europe for sardines. San.
chovies and herring. though they sw arm
along our coast. The numerous large
inlets OF Washington Territory, and the
| channels between the islands and main.
land Of Alaska and British Columbia.
abound with fish. and give facilities for
catching them that should not be neg
lec'ed for many years nore.-S. +.
Alta.