SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OF SWIFISURE BANK 
709 
From the foregoing it would appear that the depth of the gill nets commenced 
to increase somewhat after 1899, the last year for which Ratlibun gives any informa- 
tion. In 1906 our records for the Imperial cannery give 4 nets of 40 meshes in depth, 
52 of 45, 42 of 50, 4 of 72, 4 of 75, and 3 of 80 meshes, so that out of 109 nets only 
11 were over 50 meshes in depth. The 1906 records included both share and con- 
tract white fishermen, and unless the Japanese fishermen were using radically different 
gear, our records do not support the viewpoint of the witnesses as to the preponderance 
of deep nets. 
The British Columbia Fisheries Commission also stated: 
We favour the limitation of the length of salmon gill nets to 150 fathoms (300 yards). This 
was formerly the length of net universally used in the sockeye fishery, but for some years nets 
double the length, viz., 300 fathoms (600 yards) have been permitted outside the mouth of the 
Fraser River. To prevent all risk of abuse arising from the alleged use of long nets inside the 
Fraser River, a length of 150 fathoms is recommended as a maximum limit. 
Their statement is at variance with a statement by Inspector C. B. Sword in the 
Dominion Fisheries Report for 1904, p. 214, in which he says the canners suggest 
that a gill net longer than the prescribed 150 fathoms should be allowed in the Gulf 
of Georgia, as the shallower nets in use there would permit handling of 300 fathoms. 
That the longer nets were not used in the Gulf of Georgia is also the opinion of the 
cannerymen. 
From 1908-30 the size of gill nets in the whole area was restricted to a maximum 
length of 150 fathoms and a maximum depth of 60 meshes. Since 1930 a maximum 
length of 200 fathons has been permitted in the Gulf of Georgia. 
The size of the meshes in the sockeye nets were restricted as early as 18S2, and 
probably earlier, to a minimum of 5% inches. In 1916 the minimum size of mesh was 
lowered to 5 % inches and in 1928 the minimum was abolished. 
Fishing Seasons 
In studying changes in fishing intensity one must know not only the relative 
effectiveness of the gear used in different years, but also the length of time during 
which it was employed and the proportion of the run that occurred during that 
period. On the Fraser River the closed seasons had little effect on sockeye fishing, 
especially during the earlier years. At one lower-river cannery the earliest sockeye 
canning date was July 5, 1887 and 1890, and the latest was August 30, 1888. The 
shortest season was 26 days in 1885, and the longest was 50 days in 1888; averaging 
39 days. The closing date of August 25, effective in most years, had little influence 
on the pack. 
At another lower-river cannery, over the period 1887-1902, the sockeye pack 
was put up, on the average, in 52 days — from July 5 to August 25. The earliest 
start was made on June 27, 1896, and the latest on July 13, 1901. The season ended 
on August 12 in 1887 and on September 6 in 1902. 
The sockeye fishing seasons, as far as we have been able to determine from avail- 
able data, are given in table 4. 
