182 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
wanted, and that they were frequently opened to let the impounded fish escape. 
This statement may be true, but there never was a cat that held a mouse with more 
tenacity than a eanneryman holds a salmon, and it is doubted if a salmon of choice 
species is ever allowed to escape as long as it is lit to be put inside a tin can. 
1 have said here that practically all fish taken in the traps, except redlish, are 
waste. This should be slightly modified, though practically it is true; yet, in justice 
to the cannery-men, it may be said that the records of the past few years show that, 
besides redfish, on the average less than 8,000 cases of king and 8,000 cases of all other 
species were packed per year in the whole Bristol Bay district, and some of these no 
doubt were taken in traps. 
There is a question arising in my mind which now can only be stated and left for 
the future to decide, as follows: Traps take all fish of all sizes; gill nets take only the 
large fish; will gill-net fishing result in decreasing the size of the fish? 
In one locality trap men informed me that trap fish are more expensive than gill- 
net fish. In another place it was said that this year two gill-net boats secured more 
fish than one trap, but when asked why the traps were maintained the reply was 
that the fish were held in the traps until wanted. 
One eanneryman, whose resources seemed limited and who did not feel able to 
maintain traps, frankly said that traps should be abolished; but, when asked if he 
believed that traps were injurious to the fisheries, he was equally frank in saying 
“ No.” The motive is evident. 
The traps used are of the general type illustrated in my report of 1897, page 170. 
They consist of the usual shore and channel leads, with hearts and pots, but there are 
all kinds of variations to meet local conditions or the fancy of the “trap boss.” 
Some have two pots and some have additional appendages in the shape of corrals. 
Not only is the first cost of a trap in this country large, but its maintenance 
forms a big item of expense. All piling must be imported, and the strong currents 
frequently damage both piles and web. The piles are pulled up when fishing ceases 
on account of the ice, and are redriven in the spring as soon as the ice is out of the 
river and before the fish begin to run. The largest trap seen in the Bristol Bay district 
had about 2,700 feet of leads laid out in a rather complex wajq with two pots, 75 feet 
by 75 feet, and a large corral. (See sketch on page 200.) 
Seines are not used in this district, largely on account of the strong current, 
although this could be overcome if there were good seining beaches. There are a few 
bowldery beaches, but, as a rule, the banks and beaches are soft mud, so that at low 
water landing at many points, if not impracticable, can only be effected with great 
effort. On one occasion, in landing at low water near a cannery on the Nushagak, 
we became mired to such an extent that it was only by clinging to a bidarka, pushed 
out to us by the natives, that we were extricated and hauled ashore. 
The fishermen are white, usually foreigners, chiefly Scandinavians, with some 
Italians. They contract with the cannery for the season, and receive $50 per man 
for working the cannery ship from the home port to the cannery and back, discharg- 
ing and loading the vessel at the cannery, getting the nets and boats ready, and doing 
other beach work until fishing begins. They receive full and excellent board and 
lodging from the time of leaving their home port until their return. The wages of 
trap and beach men are $30 per month and one-third cent per case. The gill-netters 
