FISHERIES AND FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF PUGET SOUND. 377 



period ; bul: twine and ready-made nets of the whites have superseded the primitive 

 method, as hemp and cotton fish-lines have superseded the use of kelp lines made of 

 the Nereoeystis or giant kelp of the Northwest coast. 



As herring, sardines, and smelt do not bite at baited hooks in these waters, the 

 fishermen and boys that usually fiud sport or profit in fishing from wharves were not 

 slow to adopt the Indian method of impaling them on the sharp points of fish-rakes. 

 The Indian implement was found to be too clumsy to be used from the wharf, so a 

 method was adopted of securing fish-hooks to lines, or to wires, which are termed jig- 

 gers. These are attached to fishing-rods. When used, the jigger is thrown out as 

 far as it can reach and is then pulled swiftly through the masses offish and is sure to 

 impale several on the sharp hooks. 



One instrument I have seen was formed of wires which would open and close 

 like the ribs of an umbrella. This, when closed, would be lowered through a school 

 of fish and when suddenly hauled up the wires would expand, and as each wire 

 had a number of hooks attached to it a rich harvest was the result. This jigger 

 method is a pot-hunter's plan, and is neither scientific from an angler's point of view 

 nor does it have any other recommendation than that a hungry man can procure his 

 breakfast with a few casts of a jigger into the dense schools offish; but as the fish are 

 more or less lacerated by this plan they are only fit for immediate consumption, and 

 "jiggered" fish are not offered for sale by fish-dealers. 



The smelt are taken for market by nets. They abound in Scow Bay or Long Har- 

 bor opposite Port Towuseud, and the market is supplied by the fishermen who reside 

 there, who are mostly Portuguese. These smelt are taken nearly every month in the 

 year; they are of superior quality and very plentiful, but I never have seen them 

 taken with hooks like the smelt of the Atlantic. The only way they are taken from 

 the wharves is by these jiggers. The so-called black bass (Sebastichthys) is very plen- 

 tiful and forms excellent sport. It is a game fish and fine eating, and at times is 

 taken by the disciples of Izaak Walton with rod and reel, especially at night, in great 

 quantities. 



The bait used by these rod fishermen is either minnows, marine worms, salmon 

 eggs, or fresh meat, The rod fishing for salmon from the wharves is excellent sport, 

 and when salmon are running it is quite an attractive sight to see these fine fish 

 landed in numbers on the wharves. 



The anchovy are taken with smelt and herring in landing seines, but when a 

 special fishery is established for these delicious fish they will be taken with purse nets 

 in deep water where they school like mackerel. 



This jigger system, which I have explained, is a proof of the enormous quantities 

 of these fish in the waters of Puget Sound. Where fish are scarce the jigger is of 

 little account and seldom used, but when the fish mass in myriads about the wharves 

 the jigger is very effective. 



