FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. 339 



Except for a small amount of hook-and-line-fishmg in the salt water, 

 drift gill nets are the only appliances allowed in the commercial fishery 

 for salmon in this part of British Columbia. Their use is, moreover, 

 almost entirely confined to the lower tidal portion of the Fraser Eiver 

 and that part of the Gulf of Georgia immediately adjacent to its 

 mouths, where the salmon runs are very much more extensive than 

 elsewhere, and where the discolored water effectually hides the twine 

 during most of the open season. Although there is room for the 

 expansion of this fishery to an almost unlimited extent, and certainly 

 to the imminent danger of exhausting its resources — a condition which 

 might apply, however, to any effective method adapted to the same 

 surroundings — yet the simplicity resulting from the useof only a single 

 kind of net makes the system most amenable to regulative measures 

 and one greatly to be preferred. For the drift net, as compared with the 

 trap and purse seine, the benefit is also claimed of dividing the fishery 

 among the greatest number of fishermen, thus providing a means for 

 preventing a monopoly of the work by the larger operators. 



Experience has shown the necessity for only two kinds of these nets, 

 distinguished solely by the size of the mesh — a larger one for the quin- 

 nat and a smaller one for the sockeye and other species of correspond- 

 ing size. The former may be employed without interfering with the 

 smaller salmon, the latter without taking the larger forms, and thus an 

 opportunity is afforded for treating the two groups apart, for closing 

 the fishery for one while the other remains in season. The length of 

 the net in both classes is limited by law to 150 fathoms, and the depth, 

 by custom, to about 50 meshes. These dimensions are reasonable and 

 convenient for handling by the small boats emi)loyed in their use. 



Formerly a limitation was placed upon the total number permissible 

 in the Fraser Eiver district, which up to 1891 never exceeded 500. 

 Then all restrictions of this character were removed, and every bona- 

 fide fisherman who was a British subject and a resident became entitled 

 to a license. Canners and dealers could obtain from 7 to 20 licenses 

 apiece, though the limit to canneries was reduced in 1898 to 10. The 

 effect of this modification of the law was felt at once, for in 1892 the 

 number of nets increased to 721, and in 1893 to 1,072, in 1894 to 1,666, 

 and in 1895 to 1,733. In the last-mentioned year the total length of the 

 combined nets amounted to 528,000 yards, while in 1896 it had reached 

 800,000 yards. The principal weakness in the Canadian regulations is 

 in regard to this provision, which practically admits of an unlimited 

 extension of the fishery. The claim is not here made that the number 

 of nets has already become excessive, though i^ossibly it has, but 

 extreme watchfulness is necessary to keep the quantity within proper 

 bounds. A part of the recent great increase in the nets is ascribed to 

 the hard times prevailing in connection with other pursuits which has 

 led to an influx of many inexperienced fishermen, whose catch is said 

 to have been relatively small. The power exerted by the large amount 

 of netting is strikingly illustrated in the year of big runs of sockeye, 



