Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-09-05
FISHING FOR HA-IBUT.
b. q W. Writes of an Interesting indus
try of Oregon.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
PORTLAND, Ore, Aug Glare you fond
of halbut steaks2 If so, do you know how
the fish are caughtp did not know much
about the matter until the other day, when
| found young man who had just re-
turned from cruise on, or rather "off,
the banks in the Puget sound district l
asked a number of questions, and CLEANED
some interesting facts on the subject Of
deep sea fishing.
There is deep sea fishing company here
which operates quite extensively in halibut
fishing, and it is supposed to be profitable
industry.
The company owns a steamer for the
purpose, and this steamer engages exclu-
sively in the fishing business She car
ries crew of eleven men, a captain,
first officer and cook being three of the
number. Eight fishermen complete the
crew. They carry four small boats, and
two men are assigned to each boat when
fishing. The men catch the fish on COM
mission, and share the results equally be-
tween them. Thus eleven shares are rep
resented, and the net results of each cruise
are divided equally between the crew.
They have lines 200 feet long, and an an
Choir and a small buoy are attached to each
end of this line. The hooks are attached
at intervals of about twelve feet on the
line, making seventeen hooks to each line.
| The hooks when thrown overheard are adj
justed to hang near the bottom of the sea.
"Dores" are used in casting the lines,
which are taken in about twice a day.
Each hauling in of the lines brings up fish
on from one-half to two-thirds of the
hooks. The fish weigh from 40 to IFS
pounds each. Frequently shark or cod
fish is taken. The former are of no value,
and the latter are used for bait as needed,
after the "cod" or oil producing part has
been taken. The surplus is thrown into
the sea- Occasionally black cod is taken,
and these go into the pot to make feast
for the crew.
Sometimes it is found that hungry
shark has taken meal from one of the
halibuts, and then it is used only as bait
Sometimes they find a carcass half con
sumed by sharks, the halibut being unable
to defend itself or escape after having
swallowed the baited hook.
At the opening of the season the mer
were paid one and three-quarter cents a
pound as their share in it's catch. The
company concluded they were making toe
much money, and reduced the price to one
and one-half cents pound. The result Of
the second cruise was that each share
amounted to about SIS for ten days
cruise
The company again reduced the price tt
the men, thinking presumably that fisher
men could not stand such prosperity A
one cent pound the crew revolted anC
left the ship, but another crew was found
and as the result of two weeks triI
turned in 65per man. The fish are brough
to the ship after each raising of the lines
and are opened, cleaned and packed il
broken ice in the hold of the vessel. On
trip resulted in a catch of $1,000 pounds o
dressed halibut, the trips averaging a lit
tie below that.
Occasionally when fogs settle down owe
the fishing ground the dories cannot fine
their way back to the vessel, and then tn
anchor must be hoisted and search mad
for the missing men. Indians go out t.
the banks in small canoes, and spend sew
eral days at time in fishing. They DIR.
the fish and live ON them during the win
, ter. Halibut fishing is not the most en-
joyable sort of pastime, and is not unat
tended with danger, yet as long as it i
such profitable business men will b
, found ready to brave the sea in the SINAI
, craft used, and undergo the hardships an
, dangers encountered.
, The profits to the owners of the vessel
must be liberal, as the market never
l overstocked, and the prices range betwee
q eight and ten cents a pound. The COS
| of catching is the one to one an
e three-quarters of cent pound to tn
. men, and the cost of the vessel and ice an
other fixtures, which is not large item
D the aggregate.
\ My informant said that the larger hal
: butts make a vigorous fight when bein
q lifted out of dories. A stroke of big ifs
= across the shin is not a very pleasing sci
sation. b. G. w.