PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 87 
to hide the construction sufficiently to avoid frightening the fish. 
Short leads of kelp are also arranged on the sides so as to draw the 
fish to the tunnel, which is held in place by anchors. On the reef 
itself two boats are anchored parallel to each other and some feet 
apart. An apron of netting is fastened to the rear of the two boats, 
while the other end extends under the small end of the tunnel and is 
kept in place by men in the forward ends of the boats, who have lines 
fastened so the apron can be raised by them. The device can only 
be used with the tide entering the tunnel at the large end. When 
the fish have entered and passed through the tunnel upon the apron, 
the men raise the floating end of the latter and dump them into the 
boats. 
At one time this was a favorite device of the Puget Sound natives 
for catching sockeye salmon. They attribute its origin to one of 
the Hudson Bay Co.’s employees, who, they say, taught them a 
long time ago how to catch salmon in this way. Owing to the large 
number of men required to work them, and the fact that they can 
be worked only at certain stages of tide and in favorable weather, 
these nets gradually have been supplanted by other devices. In 
1909 but five were used, and these were operated off the shores of 
San Juan, Henry, Steuart, and Lummi Islands, and in the vicinity 
of Point Roberts. Even less are used at present. 
TROLLING. 
Hach year the catching of salmon by trolling becomes of increasing 
importance commercially. For some years sportsmen had this ex- 
citing and delightful occupation to themselves, but eventually the 
mild curers created such a persistent and profitable demand for king, 
or chinook, salmon that the fishermen, who had previously restricted 
their operations to the use of nets during the annual spawning runs, 
which last but a small portion of the year, began to follow up the 
fish both before and after the spawning run and soon discovered 
that they were to be found in certain regions throughout nearly 
every month in the year. 
Trolling has several advantages from the fisherman’s point of 
view over seine, gill net, and trap fishing. To engage in it, one 
does not require any very expensive gear, a boat, hooks, and lines 
being all that is required. Then, there are no licenses to pay and 
no seasons to observe in many sections, as the fishing is done in 
many instances beyond the jurisdiction of State waters. 
The fishermen comprise all nationalities. While the majority of 
them are professionals, men of all walks of life are to be found 
engaging in the business, some on account of their health, others 
because of reverses in business or lack of work, while still others 
engage in it from pure love of the outdoor life. 
