346 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



iDterfering with the latter species, and the reverse is true with regard 

 to the smaller mesh adapted to the sockeye. Thus a close season may 

 be arranged for one species while fishing for the other still goes on. 

 According to the existing Canadian regulations the smaller-meshed 

 nets must be withheld from the water from August 25 until Septem- 

 ber 25 of each year, when the sockeye have ceased running and only 

 later species can be taken. From October 31, again, until July 1 of the 

 following year their employment is entirely prohibited. Between 

 August 25 and September 25 protection is afforded the latter half of 

 the humjiback run and the early part of the silver sfeilmon ruii, while 

 the dog salmon, being still plentiful after October 31, enjoys the benefit 

 of the long close season, which continues through the winter. The open 

 season for the large-meshed nets is from March 1 to September 15, and 

 thus only the very beginning and the closing part of the quinnat runs 

 are free of any interference from the nets. 



In Washington the variety of apparatus makes the adjustment of 

 close times quite ditticult to docide. The trap net is omnivorous, taking 

 whatever comes its way, but being generally utilized only for the sock- 

 eye, it has commonly had little relation to other species. The drag 

 and purse seines, while better adapted for some species than for others, 

 can be considered as selective only as their use may be directed toward 

 the schools of one variety or another, and are mainly employed in the 

 late summer and the fall. When the sockeye run is small the trap nets 

 may be continued in place for the purpose of taking other species, and 

 the rapid increase in the fishery will doubtless tend to their employment 

 during a greater part of the year than has heretofore been customary. 



Just how a close-time measure should be framed so as to benefit all 

 the species under these complex conditions is a matter requiring 

 further and careful study, especially as the main part of the fishery is so 

 essentially a salt-water one. It is to be assumed that such a scheme is 

 practicable and it is further to be hoped that steps may soon be taken 

 toward its realization, but in the meantime the interests of the sockeye 

 and quinnat should not be allowed to suffer. Close seasons could 

 readily be arranged for each of those species in both the salt and fresh 

 waters and they should at once be instituted. Washington has no 

 close-time regulations whatsoever applicable to the salt water. On the 

 rivers fishing is stopped during April and again from October 1 to 

 November 15.* Only the quinnat could be benefited by this first close; 

 season, and the silver and dog salmon by the second. The latter part 

 of both the sockeye and quinnat runs should certainly be protected by 

 regulations fully as comprehensive as those in force in British Columbia, 

 and it would be better if the close time for the quinnat should begin 

 at even an earlier date than there. 



Some of the difficulties presented by the annual close times may be 

 overcome by the introduction of shorter periods of rest at intervals 



* By act of 1899 the latter close season extends from October 15 to November 15. 



