The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-07-11
VALUABLE GOLDFISH BANKS.
Some Suggestions From San Francisco

Capt. Bell, of the steamer 4. B..
Field, who was formerly an inspector
of fisheries on the Atlantic coast, re-
Gently reported at Astoria that he had
found Goldfish bank about eight miles
from Nestucca, which is near Cape
Lookout, on the Oregon coast, about
siXty-five miles south of the Columbia
river. The cod were found in great
numbers, and were large and of excel
lent quality. This is said to be the
first time that cod have ever been
found in any quantity south of Van
couver island, and in fact, the true
cod has not been found heretofore
south of the Alaskan shores. Professor
Davidson has forwarded this informa-
ton to Washington, to be incorpo-
rated in the Coast PiLOt soon to be
issued.
1t can hardly be that Captain Bell,
an old inspector of fisheries, can be
mistaken, but in view of the impor-
tance of the discovery, and to make
assurance doubly sure, it would be well
for the AIbGtTOSS, the vessel of the
United States fish commission, to
make cruise in the locality indicated
and to report officially on what she
finds. If it be that Goldfish bank of
any considerable size exists so short a
distance from this port, our fishermen
ought to know it at once, for there is
too much wealth in such a discovery
to allow it to remain unused any
longer.
Cod fishing in such a locality would
be mere pastime as compared with the
fishing on the Atlantic coast. There
the life Of the fisherman is one contin-
ued round of hardship, exposure and
danger. The perils of the sea in every
conceivable form assail his little craft
and make his life one of incessant toll
and anxiety. Gales, ice, fogs, collis-
ions, all contrive to war against him,
and added to these are the facts of an
inhospitable shore under his lee, and
the risk of seizure and confscation If
he oversteps the three mile limit as
fixed by Great Britain and the Do
minion of Canada.
Contrasted to this a fishing voyage
to the banks off Cape Lookout would
be nothing more than a yachting trip.
Even in midwinter there would be
no danger of icebergs or floating ice,
and none of that bitter Arctic breath
which congeals everything before it
and turns canvas into boards and
hemp rigging into iron. The most our
fishermen would have to fear would
be southeaster, and their schooners
will ride out gale as securely as and
much more easily than would the
largest man-Of-war that ever left the
stocks.
The food supply of the Pacific
ocean, except at the very mouths of
the rivers and harbors, is almost an
unknown quantity. The Atlantic
coast has been searched and fished
and sounded until it is as well known
as the rivers themselves; but it seems
to have been assumed, until very re-
Gently, that the Pacific is barren of
food fishes. The rivers have been ex-
plored until the salmOn-packing in
dustry has grown to enormous pro-
portions, but the ocean itself is
almost as innocent of fishing vessels
as when Sir Francis Drake first plowed
its waters with an English keel, or
when the Spanish galleons made
their yearly voyage from the Philip
pine islands to Panama and the west
ern coast of Mexico.
1t is time that our ocean should re-
ceive the study and attention which
are its due, and the AIbGtrOSS has
been sent around here for the pur-
pose of doing the necessary work.
She has already done some exploring,
but her work has only just begun, and
it would certainly be wise and proper
that her next cruise should be to this
discovery OF Captain Bells, for it is
too important matter to be neglected.
Editorial IN S. h. Chronicle, z.