, 1888-07-26
HAIIBUT FISHING.
The Gloucester Fleet Coming To
Puget Sound.

y very important event IN the his
tory OF Puget Sound, and ia fact the
whole northwest, is the arrival at
Port Townsend of the United States
steamer Albatross, Captain Y. L
James. This vessel was built. Il AIMED
and equipped by the United States
fish commission for the purpose of
surveying and exploring fishing
grounds along the coast OF the Unit
ed States. She has been in service
on the Atlantic coast ever since she
was built in 1888. During the past
five years she has constantly cruised
the waters of the Atlantic, from the
mouth of the Mississippi to the
grand banks Of Newfoundland. ex.
tending her cruise at one time as far
south as the coast of Mexico and
through a large portion of the West
India islands
1t is estimated from recent explo-
rations made by Professor George
Davidson, of the United States coast
and geodetic survey, that the probable
area of fishing grounds along this
coast Is fully twice that of the fish,
ing grounds along the Atlantic coast.
SO far, the fishing interests of this
coast have been developed to i'm
tied degEee. Since the Albatross
sailed from Washington, Nov. 10,
1887, several Gloucester fishing ves-
sells have arrived on the Sound, and
the catch of these vessels has war
ranted the owners OF several of the
Gloucester fleet to lit out other ves-
sells for the passage to this coast.
One of the schooners, the Oscar aud
Hattie, arrived last week with l00,-
900 pounds of fiitched halibu., seeur
ed off the coast of Queen Charlotte
Island, where two banks We're dis
covered. The fish is being shipped
to eastern points, where it will be
converted into smoked haiibut, and
put on the market. The Captain re-
ports that there was plenty of hall
but where he was fishing. The yes
sci was cut two months aud during
that time the crew did good work.
The halibut can be caught and pres
pared on the schooner at the cost of
one cent pound. The cost of put
ting the same on the market in the
east will probably be three cents a
pound
The schooner Mollie Adams has 80
far made three trips from the ha'ibut
fishing grounds off Cape Flatiery.
The fish are shipped by rail in a
fresh state, and Captain Jacobs. the
owner of the schooner. claims to
have received renumefative price
for the fish.
The AlbatrUss will take coal at
Nanaimo before proceeding north.
During the summer months she will
be engaged in exploring the fishing
grounds off Kodiak and Shumagin
islands, returning in the winter to
resume her work along the coast of
Wash nstoa territory, Oregon and
California.
The Northern Pacific Railroad
company and the Oregon Railway &
Navigation company, alive to their
interest IN promoting the establish
ment of the hahbut and cod fishing
md aatries in the North Pacific, have
ordered special tari:f for car load
shipments of fish east over their
lines, which went into effect this
week; The rate now to eastern ter
Is Sl.124 per 100 pounds in
ear load shipments, and SIPS Der
loO pounds to Chicago and St Louis.
under the same restriction.
Two car loads OF sailed halibut are
COW on their way TO Boston, and two
,ar loads more to Chicago.
L Is noteworthy fact that hall !
'nt can not Only tio protiabiy Caught
Il the North Pacific Tor tue = .cl.i,.
oast and western trade, but can be