The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03
GREAT TRADE IN HALIBUT.
How Fishermen work on the North
crn Banks, With Seattle ns
Hendauarfers.

Next after the salmon comes the halibut
among the food fishes Of the Northwest.
both in commercial Importance and In the
number OF pounds annually caught. Al
though both the number OF fish and thu
quality OF the flesh vary somewhat In the
different seasons OF the year. the haiibut
f. in the market the whole year around and
Is a staple fsh with ali FISH handlers. Al
though few are caught ia inland waters.
IL is essentially a sea fish and Is usually
sought on that great series OF banks that
lie along the north Pacific coast from the
mouth OF the Columbia 10 Alaska. Each
OF the Washington searorts furnishes its
quota 10 the halibut fleet that annually
follows the fish along SIS various feeding
grounds This fleet varies from sloops 20
large schooners avera zing about five men
in their crews, and % OF them hail from
Seattle alone.
During the winter the fisherman has no
slneeure. FOR ne must run along 4 rocky
coast regardless OF the winter fogs and
gales, 70 tho southeastern coast OF Alaska.
III he wishes 10 fiji his hold with fish II
"a worthy o. note. however. that the num-
her OF vessels annually lost IN the North
Pacific fisheries IS inanitesImal as COM
pared with the loss 20 the New England
fishing feet. Not only are violent gales
less prevalent but loss BY collision with
passing steamers Is almost unknown. Late
in the winter and I'm the early spring the
favorf,e fishing grounds are of Cape Scott
and the northern end OF Vancouver island.
In July the FISH are more common or the
Cape Fiattery hanks and are taken there
IN great quantities. although the flesh ia
not as firm and good rs that OF those
caught IN more northern waters.
Each OF .he fishing boats Is equipped
with a number Of dorles. and carries an
abundance Of sailed herring for bait. On
It's arrival on tho banks the boat Is an
ckored and It's crew proceeds to FISH with
hand lines 20 ascertain whether they are
over The nsh II none are caught. they
move OF and try In another place. When
the fish are discovered. the dories are got
ten cut and long lines known as travis"
are set. These are not az all siTr1,ar 20 the
Eastern trawi. which IS kind Of deep sea
dragnef, but are tines buoyed a the ends.
from which a. intervals Of every few feet
lines about three feet IN length. with
hooks a. their ends bsited with pieces OF
herring are suspended This long Ire is
allowed 20 sag N the middle - that these
hooks are on N-ytton. About every half an
hour these lines are drawn up and the ~
removed and brought into the 6oat. AZ
the end Of the days fishing she aSh are
cleaned ard packed into the hold IN alter
rate layers OF FISH and cracked lee. OF
which a large amount Is carried for each
cruise when the weather f. warm. II -
customary for al zhe men except the cap
tain. who remains 70 take charge Of the
veysei 20 spend TIE day In the d0rles al
tending 20 the era wis -
Although yet IN Hs infancy. ths !mpor-
tan~e OF rAe hailhui fishery = growing
yearly. and over soa.ooo pounds sre
brought into Washington ports. valued a.
about ssa.oca as they come from he water