42 SALMON GEAR LIMITATION 



mation. The wide diversity of gill net operations and the fact 

 that gill netting is invariably a part-time occupation make 

 it difficult to develop data directly from income tax returns 

 as in the case of the purse seiners. Nevertheless, sufficient re- 

 turns were received to provide an over-all picture of the eco- 

 nomic position of the gill net fleet. 



For the years 1959-1961 total taxable income from all 

 sources reported by the surveyed group averaged only $5,560. 

 As in the case of purse seiners, no deductions have been made 

 for work performed on boats and gear by owners themselves. 

 Gross incomes from Puget Sound fishing averaged $2,324 

 for the odd years 1959 and 1961, and only $1,711 in 1960, 

 when no pink salmon were available. Net returns averaged 

 less than half these amounts. 



The casual nature of the gill net fishery, with its emphasis 

 on part-time operation, is clearly indicated by the following 

 figures. Twenty-five per cent of the respondents obtained some 

 income from other salmon fishing. About 19 per cent had 

 some income from other types of fishing, and more than 54 

 per cent earned some income from nonfishing jobs during 

 the years 1959-1961. The number who drew unemployment 

 compensation ranged from 17 per cent in 1959 to 25 per 

 cent in 1961. 



It was also interesting to note that the average age of the 

 gill netters surveyed was forty-nine years; apparently this is 

 no longer an attractive occupation for younger men. If income 

 were increased we expect that the gill net fishery will be able 

 to recruit and hold younger men. 



Because the study was not authorized until after most of 

 the fishermen were on the fishing grounds (many in Alaska), 

 the number of responses was lower than had been hoped. 

 Nevertheless, the evidence is clear that total incomes received 

 by gill netters from all sources are slightly below the average 

 incomes for all Washington residents, despite an investment 

 of $6,000 to $7,000 in boat and gear. (On a replacement 

 cost basis the investment required for a modern gill netter 

 would range from $11,000 to $15,000.) Moreover, the in- 

 come of gill netters, as might be expected, is highly variable 

 from year to year. 



