154 BEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 HOOK-AND-LINE FISHING FOR PACIFIC SALMON. 



Mr. A. B. Alexander, of the steamer Albatross^ has furnished some 

 interesting notes relative to the taking of Pacific salmon with hook 

 and line. 



Trolling for salmon in Monterey Bay has increased steadily each 

 year since its beginning, and in 1901 there were taken by this method, 

 approximately, 190,786 pounds of salmon, or about 10,000 fish in num- 

 ber, most of which was placed in cold storage and shipped to various 

 Eastern markets. About 100 boats were engaged in the fishing. 



Previous to 1893 few salmon were taken in Monterey Bay by any 

 kind of apparatus. In that year trolling for them was found to be 

 very successful and the discovery was quickly taken advantage of by 

 anglers and commercial fishermen. It was not known t?iat salmon 

 could be taken with the hook in this bay in paying quantities, the 

 reason being, doubtless, that the fish do not aj)pear leaping at the sur- 

 face, as is the custom when entering fresh water. Most of the fishing 

 is done in the summer time, but a moderate number of fish can also 

 be taken in Monterey Bay during the winter months. 



The fish appear in numbers about the first week in June, when the 

 sardines are most numerous. The salmon are also found feeding on 

 smelts and squid. The fish are taken in two ways, by trolling with 

 the spoon with and without bait, and with the baited hook used at a 

 considerable depth with a heavy sinker. Previous to the arrival of the 

 sardines and other species on which the salmon feed the fishing is done 

 mostly by trolling with the rod and spoon, but as soon as bait is to be 

 had this method is abandoned for the sinker and hook. As a substi- 

 tute for bait the baited spoon is sometimes used, but the baited hook 

 is preferred by the commercial fishermen. 



Sportsmen who visit the bay from San Francisco and elsewhere use 

 split bamboo rods ranging from 10 to 12 ounces. Both silk and linen 

 lines are employed, varying in length from 150 to 200 yards. The 

 spoons vary in size from Nos. 5 to 7. The average hook used in con- 

 nection with the spoon corresponds in size to the No. 14 cod trawl 

 hook, with a slightly longer shank. Some fishermen use the brazed 

 treble hook, but it is not a favorite with sportsmen. All the fishing 

 is carried on from skiffs and small rowboats. 



As the numerous commercial fishermen do not often use a spoon, 

 many more salmon are taken with baited hooks. A common bamboo 

 pole is used by the fishermen, with a cotton line of 32 thread, from 

 80 to 100 feet in length. The hook is 5 inches long and shaped like a 

 halibut hook, with a longer shank. In baiting the hook care is taken 

 to have the shank entirely covered, leaving the barb and point bare. 

 The sinker is ((uitc heavy, being about 4 pounds in weight and fast- 

 ened to the line 25 feet a})ove the hook. When the salmon is hooked 

 the pole is dro[)ped and the line is hauled in hand over hand, great 



