152 FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
12 to 15 fathoms of water, but occasionally they are set as far out 
as 4or 5 milesin 25 fathoms. The fishing is done at almost any time 
during the year. 
Pots and traps.—The catch with pots and traps in 1915 amounted 
to 909,426 pounds, having a value to the fishermen of $131,111. 
More than 98 per cent of the output was spiny lobsters, the remain- 
der consisting of a few perch, rock bass, sea bass, and octopi. The 
use of these forms of apparatus is confined to the more southern 
counties of the State. The lobster pots are set on the kelp beds 
near the shore, where the lobsters seem to gather for protection dur- 
ing warm weather; but when it gets colder they move into deeper 
water, and the fishermen follow them with their pots. The pots are 
made of laths, usually about 3 feet long, 30 to 32 inches wide at the 
bottom, narrowing to about 12 inches at the top, and about 12 inches 
high. They are set singly, with a buoy line attached to each pot, 
in water varying in depth from 3 to 20 fathoms. When fishing in 
the deeper water it is often necessary to use from 40 to 60 pounds 
of ballast to a single pot. 
Hoop nets.—With the exception of a few crawfish taken in a small 
stream in Sonoma County, the use of hoop nets was confined ex- 
clusively to taking crabs, the catch of which in 1915 amounted to 
1,157,567 pounds, valued at $111,930, all of which were taken in the 
shore fisheries. Crabs are taken as far north as Del Monte County, 
but practically none were taken commercially south of San Francisco, 
from which place and vicinity most of the fishing was done. The 
nets are similar to those used in Washington. They are set in the 
Pacific Ocean, usually within a mile offshore, but a few are set as 
far as 9 miles out. It is customary to have an interval of 150 yards 
between the nets. Herring, perch, or shiners are used for bait and 
are placed in a small, brass-wire cage fastened to the center of the 
net. The hoops of the net are painted to prevent them from rusting 
and rotting the twine. 
Lampara nets.—The total catch with lampara nets in 1915 
amounted to 10,989,512 pounds, valued at $106,906, of which squid 
contributed about 55 per cent and sardines nearly 30 per cent of the 
weight. The remainder of the catch was made up of 16 other species. 
Lampara nets were used in San Francisco, Monterey, Los Angeles, 
and Orange Counties only. This net is said to have originated in 
Italy and was introduced into California by fishermen from that 
country. It is constructed somewhat on the principle of a com- 
mon haul, or beach, seine, except that the lead line is shorter than 
the cork line, which creates a bag or bunt in the back of the net for 
the collection of the fish. The average length of this net is about 
120 yards and the depth 35 to 50 feet. The bag, which is about 100 
feet long, is made of No. 20-6 cable-laid twine, and the remainder 
of No. 6 cotton thread. The bunt has a 1-inch mesh, the next 50 
feet of the net have a 4-inch mesh, the next 120 feet an 8-inch mesh, 
and the remainder an 18-inch mesh. A line, 15 fathoms long, of 
No. 15 manila rope, is attached to each end of the net. The twine 
used, the size of mesh, and also the manner of construction differ 
according to the individual ideas of the fishermen. 
A lampara net is always hauled into a boat instead of on the beach. 
The fishing is usually done in shallow water, as it is desired that the 
lead line be on or close to the bottom. From three to five men, 
