HISTORY OF COMMERCIAL FISHERY 



The Dungeness-crab fishery is both the largest and the oldest 

 known shellfish fishery of the North Pacific Coast. Many years before 

 the arrival of the white man, natives along the shore of the Strait of Juan 

 de Fuca trapped crabs in crude homemade pots. The settlers were quick 

 to realize the value of the Dungeness crab and began fishing for them. 



In California, the Dungeness-crab fishery began between 

 1860 and 1870 in the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate areas. No re- 

 strictions on the taking of crabs were then considered necessary. Later, 

 the fishing so increased that the California Legislature in 1903 prohibited 

 the taking or possessing of female crabs, and made it illegal to take any 

 crab less than 6 inches across the carapace. In 1911 the size limit was 

 amended to 7 inches, and that limit is still in effect. 



CRAB FISHING 



Method of capture 



"Pots" and ring nets are the only types of fishing gear author- 

 ized for the commercial taking of Dungeness crabs in the Pacific Coast 

 States and Alaska. Pots are individual traps fished at fixed positions on the 

 bottom. The construction and operation of crab pots is explained in Fishery 

 Leaflet 419, "Dungeness Crab Pots", which can be obtained free of charge 

 from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 

 Washington 2 5, D. C. 



Fishing areas 



The Dungeness-crab fishery is carried on both in inside waters 

 like San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound, and Prince William Sound, and xn 

 outside waters. 



Fishing depths generally range from 2 to 20 fathoms, but 

 occasionally crabs may be fished in depths up to 40 fathoms. During the 

 fishing season, fishermen move their pots according to the movements of 

 the crabs: one week, crabs may be found in depths of 2 fathoms; the fol- 

 lowing week, they may be found in depths of 15 or 20 fathoms. The crabs' 

 location is generally determined by the trial setting of ring nets in different 

 depths of water. 



