342. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tance compared with the length of the leader and the scope of the wings, 

 by which the capacity of the net is chiefly to be measured, because 

 however large the crib may be it will only receive the fish which are 

 directed toward its opening. Two thousand feet is as great a length 

 as should ever be allowed for the leader, and in some locations this 

 would be excessive. It may also be found advisable to limit the size of 

 the wings, for they are practically only adjuncts of the leader and of great 

 effectiveness. 



But however important it is to restrict the size of the nets, it is still 

 more important to regulate their arrangement or relations to one 

 another when several are fished in the same place. It is a common 

 practice in many localities to join such nets in a string of from two up, 

 according to the width of bottom suited to the purpose. Pound nets 

 on Lake Erie have been thus combined to cover a distance of even 8 or 

 10 miles without a single break. The longest string in the Puget 

 Sound region in 1895 consisted of three nets at Point Eoberts, which 

 extended off from the beach somewhat over a mile. The effect of this 

 arrangement is evident. Over the width which the striijg occupies 

 substantially every salmon coming toward it is destined to become 

 entrapped. There is little chance for any to escape and a very poor 

 showing for succeeding tra^js near at hand. Again, though they be 

 not in strings, they may so alternate in jiosition that the salmon which 

 pass one net strike directly against the leader of another. Thus the 

 interests of the fishery demand, where a number of nets are operated 

 near together, that their distribution be so fixed as to permit a fair 

 proiiortion of the salmon to work their way from among them. Other- 

 wise, with the rapid multiplication of traps which is going on, a time 

 may come when the i)rogress of the salmon will be so barred at inter- 

 vals as to prevent their ever reaching the Fraser or Skagit rivers. 

 This at least applies to the fish which skirt the shores, and it seems 

 reasonable to suppose that a large shar^ do so at one point or another. 

 In any event, it would be quite injudicious to subject too large a pro- 

 portion of the fish to capture at any single place. The matter may be 

 definitely regulated by statute as regards the strings, but in respect to 

 the alternating arrangement a consideration of local conditions may be 

 required in each case. 



The opportunities are few for a lineal arrangement on the Washing- 

 ton coast, and it is doubtful if any string could be advantageously 

 extended beyond the distance given for the long line off" Point Roberts. 

 It was suggested by the Joint Fisheries Commission in 1896, however, 

 that the proper limit has there been exceeded, and that no more than 

 two nets, with leaders not over 2,000 feet long in each, should be allowed 

 in any string. Between the two nets, moreover, there should be an 

 opening, a means of escape for a part of the salmon, and a passageway 

 for boats. Its minimum width in the regulations submitted was placed 

 at 100 feet. It would be better to make it 500 or 600 feet. And it was 

 further provided that the inner end of any leader should never come into 



