Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is the largest
species of flatfish in the world, reaching a length of nearly 9
feet and a weight of over 500 pounds. A truly majestic fish and I
am a fortunate biologist that this is the animal I study. It
deserves its own cache. And so I've placed one.
Unlike most disaster stories you hear concerning fisheries
managagement, halibut stocks are extremely healthy and the
commercial and sport catches are at record levels. So, not only is
it a delicious fish but you can feel good about consuming
it.
To find the cache you will need to do just a little bit of
research on halibut. I suggest visiting the International Pacific
Halibut Commission web
page. Technical Report #40 (follow the link for Literature from
the IPHC home page) will prove especially useful. While you're
searching for the answers to the two simple questions below be sure
to learn more about this dextral teleost fish.
1. What is the maximum recorded age for a halibut? Halibut, like
most fish that inhabit non tropical waters, are aged by counting
rings on their otoliths, a calcareous or stone-like body in each
internal ear that serves as a hydrostatic or balancing organ. This
number is AB. NOTE added 8/11/05 - look for the oldest male halibut
- the age is older than 45 and the answer you get from Google is
likely incorrect)
2. In what year did the commercial fishery for halibut begin?
From that year until the mid 1990s, the halibut fishery was
generally an open access fishery. This encouraged a "race for the
fish" and the fishing seasons got shorter and shorter until the
annual "season" was just 2 days long. Now, an "Individual
Transferable Quota" system is in place, in effect allowing
individual fishers to own part of the annual quota. Because they
may fish this quota at their leisure, the result has been to evenly
distribute fishing effort over the full 8 months commercial fishing
is allowed (mid-March to mid-November). That number is CDEF.
The cache is located at N 47 39.(CAB-124) W 122 18.(DEF-162)
You're looking for a bison capsule; bring your own writing
utensil.