The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-23
TnE "sKIL" FIsnERIEs,
Judge Swan Thinks the New Etu
y Valuable Food Aft1<fe

Judge Swan Thinks tho New Htuo<
Valuable Food A fS1<ie
Victoria Coionisg =
Judge swan OF Port ToTu94n0. W<x
in the city yesterday. IN ~ <|oui4
recovering from a ever sleku1<4
caused by constant railway travel sio<3
ing the past summer Totftpftsent
ative OF The Cofonisl he stated that he
came over 10 make some inquiries re-
garding the black cod tskil) fisheries.
lie had had conversation with Mr..
Henry Saunders on the subject and
thought that gentleman was entitled
TO the praise and gratitude OF the
country Tor his efforts 10 open up the
fishery for this food fish, which in
Judge Swan : opinion, Is the finest fish
to be found ia the waters Of the Pacific.
Capt. Jacobs, of Gloucester, had in
Sngurated fishing for haiibut for east.
ern shipment, and 80 far had met with
abundant success, and be trusted Mr..
Saunders would be equally successful
in the black cod fishery.
Being asked his opinion regarding
the misleading name given the fish, he
stated that when Il was hrst discovered
Prof. Jordan could not find suitable
name, and as the fish in appearance,
though not In flesh, resenibled cod,
the name black cod was given 10 il.
The fish would have TO create n mar
kef on its own meTits. but 80 soon as
il was known he felt positive is excel
lent quality as "A food tish would soon
bring il into great demand. IL was
pretty well known by name Ia the
East, bat no ti-h had yet found their
way 70 market
Judge Swan did not believe Il neces-
sary 20 go 20 Queen Charlotte Islands
10 ind the fish When one Of Capt.
Jacobs schooners was fishing of Cape
flaitery for haliAnt she tfawi was
dragged IN deep water, and ins ieakkzof
"A line iuli OF halibut there was { H4U
catch ef black cod. lie belicyed Il <
isted from the cape north aleAe ~
coast into the waters Of Alaska.
While on the United States Il ti4hrrh6
mission steamer Aibatr0ss lakt k1fFf~
mer, Judge Swan said be efaf<fe1s
one Of the pleasantest experiences oi
his life. The vessel was provided with
one of the very beet scientiiic APP
paratus for prosccutinF the iHyestign-
lions. and there was a magBiiieent
library on board. The line Tor deep
sea sounding vas I've miles IN length.
and that for inshoTe sounding 700
fathoms. During the progress Of the
steamer along the coast south Of Cape
FiatteTy the fact was discovered that
a ledge extended ont from the shore
distance Of some miles at varying
depth but il broke off suddenly and
the depth outside the ledge might be
regarded a. fath0miess. In dredging
az four miles depth the dredger
brought up a quantity OF white
material that looked ike sand,
but under the mic. oscope Il was
seen that Il was composed OF
minute sheil-fish. The dredRer
also brought up very large quantity
OF small live sbell-iish. and II was
demonstrated that the bottom Of the
ocean AZ this great depth was covered
with small fish This was also the
case az depth Of from 800 70 200
fath0ms In the opinion Of the fish
experts on board the Albatross. and ~
n also Judge swans opinion, the
presence of such quantities OF food -
these depths decides The point as 70
where the salmon disappear Before
entering the Tiyers In the spring and
after leaving them In tie fall, the sal.
mon are n0t seen. II Is now believed
that they pass down to the bottom q
the ocean and subsist on the fatty food
10 ~ hal there. for salmon Is never
IN such q ane igies condition as when
il first si-ows itseif after ifs disaprear-
arce Gafiag the winter.
Iadee swan has taken a speeiai IN
tsfe4t Ia the asAfi" ffshsng, and believes
that il ALL soon reach large proper
ti0nx.