206 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
relations between capitalists and fishermen and those between the men 
themselves.* 
The crew of a gill-net boat consists of two men, one designated as the 
u captain,” and the other (who always rows the boat when the nets are 
being shot) called the u boat-puller ” or “ helper.” In most cases the 
boats are owued by the canneries, while the nets are tbe property of 
the fishermen,* but in some cases the latter have an interest in or may 
be the sole owners of both nets and boats. The arrangement is such 
that the “ boat-puller” receives one-third of the money obtained for the 
fish at a fixed rate, while two-thi ds of the proceeds go to the captain, 
net, and boat. Theoretically, the boat and apparatus take one share, 
and the other two shares are equally divided between the meu.f 
The terms upon which boats are obtained of the canneries varies with 
the exigencies of the business. In 1888 the fishermen paid from $40 to 
$50 for the rent of each gill-net boat, but the next spring these were 
furnished free of charge, and fishermen who had boats of their own 
received $40 extra from the canners. 
During the fishing season the fishermen live a good deal on board 
their boats. After the nets are hauled and the catch disposed of, the 
boats are often run into some cove or bay, where they are brought to 
anchor. The fishermen in each boat then uuskip the rudder and set it 
up amidships to support one end of the gaff, the other end of which rests 
upon the bow. The sail is thrown over the gaff, like an awning, and 
this constitutes the roof to an improvised cabin or cuddy, under which 
the crew sleep. Coffee or tea is made over a lamp, and when the meal 
has been eaten the men crawl under the sail and sleep until the tide is 
favorable for fishing. It is not uncommon to see hundreds of boats 
anchored in this manner along the coves or bends in the river, out of 
the way of passing steamers. Absolute quiet reigns,, and one who for 
the first time sees such a fleet, literally sleeping upon the river, is little 
prepared for the scene of busy activity presented when it wakes with 
the turning tide, and the broad bosom of the great river is almost in- 
stantly covered with boats putting out from all directions. 
In many cases fishermen land the salmon at canneries near their 
homes, and then go home to sleep until the hour for fishing. 
The fishermen who operate the pound nets, slat weirs, seines, and 
* Formerly the nets, as well as boats, were usually the property of the canneries, 
and these were rented to the fishermen, the canner receiving one-third of the catch 
for rent. But about 1888 this system was discontinued, and now the fishermen have 
to buy their own nets, though, as stated above, the boats are still rented, as a rule. 
It was believed by the capitalists that this would induce the fishermen to take better 
care of the nets than they otherwise would. A common saying on the Columbia is 
that a fisherman who is using his own net rarely “ catches asteamboat in it,” a phrase 
due to the fact that formerly, when the nets were owned by the canneries, the gear 
was often destroyed by passing steamboats, because the men did not exercise the 
necessary care to avoid such mishaps. 
t The “boat-puller” is paid, according to Wilcox, on the basis of 35 to 40 cents for 
each salmon taken, or considerably less than the price paid by the canners. 
