78 FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
about 90 yards in length and 25 meshes (64 inches) in depth. Silver 
salmon predominate in the catch. 
Drift gill netting is usually followed at night, as the water is too 
clear, except after a freshet, to fish during the day. 
An extensive drift gill-net fishery is prosecuted from La Conner, 
Skagit County, in the north fork of the Skagit River. A few boats 
from this vicinity also go as far north as the Gulf of Georgia. Most 
of the fishing in these waters, as well as in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, 
is done during the summer, and mostly for bluebacks, though hump- 
backs are also taken at the same time. Silver salmon are taken more 
in the tributary streams. In 1915 the spring and summer catch 
from the Skagit River was utilized by the fresh-fish markets, but the 
fall catch was delivered to the canneries. In 1916 practically the 
entire catch, with the exception of steelhead, was utilized by the 
canneries. 
The drift gill-net fishermen at towns on Grays Harbor are divided 
between those fishing on the Chehalis and those fishing on the Colum- 
bia Rivers; the former using row, and the latter gasoline, boats. The 
nets used on the Chehalis River average 100 yards in length and 35 
meshes of 62 inches in depth. Chinook, silver, and chum salmon in 
the order of their importance were taken. A few men use nets with 
41-inch mesh for oes chinook salmon. 
The distance a net is allowed to drift before being lifted is termed 
a “drift” or “reach.” On this river it is from 500 to 1,000 feet, 
depending upon the condition of the bottom as to snags or other 
obstructions. In 1915, the catch was sold mostly to near-by canneries, 
but conditions were somewhat changed in 1916. 
Drift gill nets used on the Columbia River in Washington vary in 
length from 450 to 500 yards, used at Ilwaco at the mouth of the 
river, to 250 yards at Stevenson, the most distant point up the river 
at which they are used. At Vancouver and vicinity, however, the 
nets average about 600 yards in length. The depth of the net varies 
from 25 to 30 feet. This applies only to surface drift nets; diver or 
bottom nets will be described later. No. 40 linen twine running 
from 7 to 14 ply is almost invariably used. With few exceptions, two 
men are required to fish a net. Noes but gasoline boats are used. ~ 
The fishing is ordinarily followed at night, but when the water becomes 
roily it can be done during the day. <A “drift” or “reach” varies 
according to the locality and conditions. A net is sometimes allowed 
to drift a mile before lifting. During the spring the State law pro- 
hibits fishing from 6 p. m. Saturday until 6 p.m. Sunday. Gill nets 
are washed about every week in a solution of bluestone and water 
to remove the slime. It is a common practice to tan the nets at 
intervals to render them less discernible in the water. The drift 
gill nets just described are all surface nets. Above Altoona a net 
known as a “diver,” or submersible drift gill net, is used. The 
diver is similar to the surface net except that the corks are smaller 
and the cork and lead lines lighter, so that it will just touch the 
bottom. The nets are also shorter and much more shallow than the 
surface nets. The number in use increases going up the river from 
Altoona, and above Kalama it is the only kind used. Those used at 
Kalama and above are, however, different from those below. Instead 
of one they have three webs, similar to a trammel net, except that the 
salmon are gilled and not pocketed. The three webs are suspended 
