154 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 HOOK-AND-LINE FISHING FOR PACIFIC SALMON. 



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

 iiitiMosting notes relative to the takinc^ of Pacific salmon with hook 

 and line. 



Trolling- for salmon in Monterey Bay has increased steadily each 

 3'ear since its houfinning', and in 1901 there were taken by this method, 

 approximate!}', 190,78(5 pounds of salmon, or about 10,000 tish in num- 

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

 Eastern markets. About 100 boats wei'e engao-cd in the fishing. 



Previous to 1893 few salmon were taken in Monterej' 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 connnercial fishermen. It was not known that salmon 

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

 reason being, doubtless, that the fish do not appear 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 Ba}' 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 l)y 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 ])aited spoon is sometimes used, but the baited hook 

 is preferred b\' 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 emplo^'cd, varying in length from 150 to 200 yards. The 

 spoons var}^ 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 conuuon bamboo 

 pole is used l)y the fishermen, with a cotton line of 32 thread, from 

 80 to lOo 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 barl) and point bare. 

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

 ened to the line 25 feet above the hook. A\'hon the salmon is hooked 

 the pole is dropped and the line is haulcil in hand over hand, great 



