32 ; SALMON FISHERIES OF PACIFIC COAST. 



The Columbia River fish wheel is a patented device. It was first 

 used by the patentees, Messrs. S. W. Williams & Brother, in 1879, and 

 for several years they retained a monopoly in its use. A number are 

 now operating on the river. The device was not new even when pat- 

 ented, as the natives of the Yukon River Basin had been using a 

 precisely similar principle for an unknown number of years previ- 

 ously, while a similar " fishing machine," as it is called, had been in 

 use prior to this time and is still used by white fishermen on the 

 Roanoke River, in North Carolina. 



REEF NETS. 



As the name indicates, this device is used around the reefs. Under 

 natural conditions the reef is covered with kelp throughout its 

 length, the kelp floating at the top of the water. A channel is cut 

 through this, and in it is placed a tunnel of rope and netting, which 

 flares at the outer end, in deep water, and into which is thatched 

 grass, kelp leaves, or any other article resembling submarine growth, 

 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 it- 

 self 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 Company'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 have gradually 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. 



TROLLING. 



Each 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 



