Halibut

What it looks like

The halibut has a large, sturdy, oblong-shaped body. Both eyes are on the right side and the mouth is somewhat large with conical teeth. The halibut is dark brown or marbled grey with paler shades on the eye side and white on its blind side. Halibut spawn in the winter form November to January. A large female can grow to nearly 3 metres and can produce 2 to 3 million eggs a year. The longest recorded male reached 140 cm. The food of adult halibut consists of fish, crab, clams, squid and other invertebrates (animals with no backbone).

What it was used for

The halibut is one of the largest fish species caught by tribes along the coast. A long time ago special halibut hooks were made from steaming hemlock branches into a U shape and lashing the barb to one side of the hook. The halibut would suck the baited hook in and when it tried to blow it out the hook would be stuck in the halibut's cheek. The first halibut caught has to steamed right away. If not, then it is believed that the fisherman who caught the first halibut will never again get another bite.