Tasie [V
Pacific Halibut Catch by Areas and Nationalities, 1932 to 1945

Vese Area 1 Area 2} Ral Area 3 Total Total Grand ver
American | American | Canadian Total American | Canadian Total fexesosteziey |) (Cesnesctte Total
Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds ‘Pounds Pounds pouacs

19325... 902,271 | 16,026,631 | 5,960,640 | 21,987,271 | 21,146,037 451,761 | 21,597,798 | 38,074,939 | 6,412,401 | 44,487,340 | 1932
1933. 722,254 | 14,880,259 | 7,649,400 | 22,529,659 22,887,941 637,072 | 23,525,013 | 38,490,454 | 8,286,472 46,776,926 1933
1934. 1,541,258 | 13,360,103 9,004,714 | 22,364,817 | 22,829,989 726,658 | 23,556,647 | 37,731,350 | 9,731,372 | 47,462,722 | 1934
1935. *1,489,294 | 13,112,709 | 8,954,740 22,067,449 | 22,532,977 1,251,314 | 23,784,291 | 37,134,980 | 10,206,054 | 47,341,034 | 1935
1936. 708,301 | 13,865,731 8,696,865 | 22,562,596 | 23,717,665 1,887,788 | 25,605,453 | 38,291,697 | 10,584,653 | 48,876,350 | 1936
1937. 709,752 | 13,445,575 | 9,852,348 | 23,297,923 | 23,551,917 | 1,912,966 | 25,464,883 | 37,707,244 | 11,765,314 | 49,472,558 1937
1938 706,316 | 13,737,819 | 9,571,461 | 23,309,280 22,820,005 2,623,208 | 25,443,213 | 37,264,140 | 12,194,669 | 49,458,809 | 1938
1939 1,072,675 | 13,466,002 | 10,913,035 | 24,379,037 22,761,120 | 2,552,125 | 25,313,245 | 37,299,797 | 13,465,160 | 50,764,957 | 1939
1940. 779,036 | 14,395,547 | 11,101,558 | 25,497,105 25,396,243 1,582,314 | 26,978,557 | 40,570,826 | 12,683,872 | 53,254,698 | 1940
1941 332,259 | 13,332,247 | 10,609,166 | 23,941,413 | 25,590,281 2,350,333 | 27,940,614 | 39,254,787 | 12,959,499 | 52,214,286 | 1941
1942. 285,621 | 14,046,982 | 9,147,146 | 23,194,128 | 24,903,636 2,054,745 | 26,958,381 | 39,236,239 | 11,201,891 | 50,438,130 | 1942
1943. 419,944 | 13,740,543 | 11,116,583 | 24,857,126 | 26,569,949 1,790,540 | 28,360,489 | 40,730,436 | 12,907,123 | 53,637,559 | 1943
1944. 318,689 | 14,957,704 | 11,149,714 | 26,107,418 | 24,782,581 2,190,459 | 26,973,040 | 40,058,974 | 13,340,173 | 53,399,147 | 1944
1945. 529,000 | 13,230,000 | 11,750,000 | 24,980,000 | 25,605,000 3,551,000 | 29,156,000 39,364,000 15,301,000 | 54,665,000 | 1945

t Figures for Area 2 for 1937 and thereafter include halibut which were taken incidentally to cod fishing after the closure of Area 2, as allowed by
regulations of the International Fisheries Commission for these years. The approximate amounts are: 278,000 lbs. in 1937; 280,000 lbs. in 1938; 372,943
Ibs. in 1939; 304,155 lbs. in 1940; 510,204 Ibs. in 1941; 555,895 lbs. in 1942; 856,360 lbs. in 1943; 844,596 lbs. in 1944; 920,000 lbs. in 1945.

* This figure includes landings from Areas 1 and 4, as defined in the regulations for 1935.
catch of previous years, as it is not believed any fish were landed in 1935 from that portion of Area

** Estimated amount of halibut landed in Area 1.

This amount should compare directly with the Area 1
4 which included Bering Sea.

Nore. 1945 figures of the International Fisheries Commission are preliminary and subject to further correction —Yearbook 1946, Pacific Fisherman.

It will be noted that while the American catch of
halibut has. only increased from 38,075,000 pounds to
39,364,000 pounds, or about 3-4 per cent, the Canadian
catch has increased from 6,412,000 pounds to 15,301,000
pounds, or nearly two and one-half times. This is due to
a number of factors other than improvement in fishing
grounds. Probably the principal factor is the situation of
the port of Prince Rupert with respect to the fishing grounds,
the excellent facilities established there for the quick freezing
and storage of halibut, and the fast rail movement of ship-
ments from the port to the prime consuming points in the
East.

So far, a substantial part of the objective of the Com-

International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission—
This more recently established international body has been
formed with the immediate object of developing the sockeye
(red) salmon fishery in and tributary to the Fraser River.

This was once the world’s greatest salmon fishery,
reaching in 1913 a production of more than 2,400,000 cases.
By 1933, the industry was facing near disaster with a
production-of only 273,481 cases.

While the Fraser River is entirely within Canada, the
fishery, which depends on the fish spawned in Canadian
waters, is participated in by fishermen of both countries,
the incoming fish passing through the United States,

mission has been achieved. In Area 3, the condition of
the stock has greatly improved and the catch per unit of
fishing gear rose from 64 pounds, in 1930, to 122 pounds in
1941. The fish are running larger, giving thus a greater
proportion of fish of spawning age. In Area 2, conditions
have improved, catch per unit of gear rising from 35 pounds
in 1930, to 62 pounds in 1941, but increase of spawners in

Area 2 has been disappointing—probably due to illegal
fishing.

International, and Canadian waters of Juan de Fuca Strait,
Puget Sound, Strait of Georgia, and the estuary of the
Fraser. In the earlier years, United States fishermen took

the larger share of the catch, but in late years the trend
has been reversed.

With the decline of the fishery, it became apparent that
some internationally sponsored action was imperative if the
industry was to be preserved. Joint international con-
ferences and mutual agreements for improved regulations

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