Eastern Pacific Halibut Fishery, 1888-1966 #249421

Its recorded occurrence in the North Pacific extends on the east from Santa Rosa Island, Calif., to Norton Sound in the Bering Sea, across the Continental Shelf in Bering Sea, and off the Asiatic coast from the Gulf of Anadyr to Hokkaido. The North American range of the halibut setline fishery extends miles from Northern California to St. Matthew Island in Bering Sea and in depth from about 20 to 250 fathoms. The halibut is the largest of the flatfish, reaching a recorded maximum size of 495 pounds in the eastern Pacific-the present average land'ed size is about 30 to 35 pounds. The females are faster growing, and no male over 123 pounds has been caught to date. All data quoted in this text and accompanying tables refer to eviscerated heads-off weights. From November to March, spawning concentrations of halibut occur at numerous locations along the edge of the Continental Shelf at depths from about 175 to 225 fathoms. The average age when the fish first become mature is about 12 years for females and probably 8 years for males. A large female may produce 2 to 3 million eggs annually.