102 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
the same rates for tbeir catch as the regular fisherman, and occasionally 
add considerably to their earnings. 
Each vessel lias a “ watchman,” who is paid monthly wages, and, like 
the dressing gang, receives additional pay for fish caught over the ves- 
sel’s side. On passages his duties are those of a common sailor ; but 
on the fishing banks no anchor watch is kept by other members of the 
crew, who sleep at stated hours (that can hardly be called night in high 
northern latitudes), while the watchman remains alone on deck and 
keeps the lookout. He thus often has exceptional opportunities for 
fishing, and two instances are cited when watchmen were “ high line,” 
having caught more fish than any one else on board. 
The vessel furnishes all boats, fishing gear, bait (if any is carried), 
and provisions free of any expense to the crew. Clothing, tobacco, or 
other supplies are advanced from the outfitting stores before sailing, or 
furnished from the “ slop-chest ” during the voyage, the price of these 
being deducted from the earnings of each man at the final settlement. 
The lay of the Alaskan stations differs slightly from that above de- 
scribed. The fishermen are paid from $25 to $30 per 1,000 for all their 
fish, but with the understanding that they must dress and salt all their 
catch. The system of measuring and counting differs only in the size 
of the fish from that in vogue on the vessels; the fish are salted in the 
warehouses. It has been given in evidence before the Senate Com- 
mittee on Relations with Canada that $27.50 is the price paid by the 
McCollam Fishing and Trading Company, with the understanding that 
“counts” should be no less than 26 inches in length; those from 24 to 
26 inches to be counted two for one, and all less than 24 inches long to be 
thrown away. Each station is under the control of an agent of the 
company that operates it, and his relations to the men are the same as 
those of the captain of a vessel ; he superintends their work, keeps the 
record of their catch, and furnishes them with such supplies as they 
may need from the company’s store. The fishermen live in comfortable 
quarters on shore and are provided by the company with everything 
required for fishing, except gear (including trawl lines), which is paid for 
at a price fixed upon when the men ship for the season. This rule has 
been adopted to insure greater care for the gear on the part of the fish- 
ermen, but it has not been found necessary on vessels fishing at the 
Okhotsk Sea and Bering Sea, where hand lines only are employed. 
On the vessels fishing in Alaskan waters, according to Tanner — 
The captain is paid a stated sum per month, and has no share in the cargo. The 
mate receives a monthly salary, and also a certain sum for every thousand fish caught. 
Each of the crew receives $25 per thousand fish ; splitters, $50 per month ; salters, $40 
per month ; cooks, $60 per month. On the return from a trip the crew has nothing 
more to do with the vessel, taking no part in the discharging of the cargo, which is 
done entirely at the expense of the owners. Tlie cod livers are never saved, and a 
profitable portion of the fish is thereby thrown away. 
I have beeu told that a system similar to the above has at times been 
adopted on vessels going to the Okhotsk Sea. 
