FISHERIES OP WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. 307 



toward which the fish are working, but during a trip from the delta to 

 Point Eoberts, at the height of the sockeye season in 1895, the boats 

 were observed to be also scattered elsewhere in all directions as far as 

 one could see, to near the boundary line, south of which they do not 

 go. There were at least 400 or 500 boats outside on that occasion, and 

 the scene presented was one of great animation. While" the nets are 

 set with reference to the current, they soon take devious courses, and 

 in places were so close together that the tug on which we were had 

 difficulty in picking its way among them. 



Owing to the generally unfavorable weather in the spring, there has 

 been practically no fishery for quinnat on the outside grounds at that 

 season, but in the fall this si)ecies may be taken there to a small extent. 



The length of the drift nets in British Columbian waters is limited by 

 law to 150 fathoms, and the most of those in use are probably of about 

 that size. There is no restriction upon their depth, but custom fixes 

 it at 50 to 55 meshes, though some are narrower. Two sizes of mesh 

 are recognized by law. The larger, intended for the quinnat salmon, 

 measured 7| inches in extension, until 1897, when it was reduced to 7 

 inches, and may be used from March 1 to September 15. The smaller, 

 designed for the sockeye, silver salmon, etc., measures 5§ inches, and 

 may legally be employed from July 1 to August 25, and again from 

 September 25 to October 31. Between Sej)tember 15 and 25, and 

 between Is^ovember 1 and March 1, all salmon fishing with nets is pro- 

 hibited. The quinnat nets are employed mainly in the spring and early 

 summer, but also to some extent in September, when the quinnat run is 

 smaller and the fish are not in so good condition. The smaller mesh is 

 used mostly during July and August, when the sockeye are present 

 and the canneries are in active operation. The close season, beginning 

 August 25, is to permit the last of the sockeye schools, in which the 

 fish are well matured, to reach their sijawning-grounds unmolested. The 

 fall season of the small-meshed nets allows for the capture of the silver 

 salmon, but the fishery at that time is not extensive, as the demand for 

 this species is very much less than for the sockeye. 



The twine of which the nets are made is of the best flax, but being 

 loosely laid has a very coarse appearance compared with that used for 

 gill nets in the Great Lakes and elsewhere in the East. The nets con- 

 structed of it, however, are said to be better adapted to the large 

 catches of heavy fish so generally obtained on the Fraser Eiver, 

 although the fine hard twine is best for clear water. The cost of the 

 nets fully rigged is about $100 apiece. They are lightly tanned and 

 sometimes a little tar is used upon them. With care they can be made 

 to last three or four years, but with the ordinary hired fishermen their 

 life is generally measured by a single season. They are fitted with 

 lead sinkers and wooden floats. The buoys are sometimes of wood, but 

 square tin oil cans are very commonly employed for this purpose. 



The boats are mostly small skiffs, about 20 feet long, generally 

 manned by two, occasionally by three, persons. In recent years the 



