Salmon Fishing 183 



towed at a depth of at least twenty feet — some- 

 times the fish are much deeper. 



The usual sailing speed in trolling is four miles 

 an hour, and the average size of fish taken is a 

 little over twenty pounds, although fifty pounders 

 are sometimes caught. The best of the season is 

 in June, but there is good fishing well into Au- 

 gust ; and sometimes salmon are taken here by 

 trolling throughout the winter, as in 1896-97. 

 The best fishing is usually to be had during the 

 forenoon, and twenty-five fish are considered a 

 good day's catch for one hook. Even the com- 

 mercial fisherman have some sport, as the fish are 

 gamey, nearly all jumping out of the water while 

 being hauled in. 



Monterey is the only place on the Pacific coast 

 where an important number of market fishermen 

 use the hook and line for salmon. The fishing 

 has increased steadily each year since its begin- 

 ning, and in 1901 there were taken by this method 

 approximately 190,786 pounds of salmon, or about 

 10,000 fish in number, most of which were placed 

 in cold storage and shipped to various parts of the 

 East. About one hundred boats were engaged. 



In the Eel River, in northern California, there 

 is good salmon trolling in the fall. The fish are 



