390 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
inches in diameter. As a rule, there is only one funnel, situated nearly in the middle of the net. 
There is no rule for the size of net, mesh, or hoops; each fisherman carries out his individual ideas 
as to what is best suited to the conditions. The size of mesh is usually 2+ to 3 inches, but the nets 
used by the Chinese have much finer meshes, those near the apex measuring not more than half an 
inch. Most of the fyke nets used in California for the capture of catfish are set without leaders ; if 
the latter are used, they vary from 15 to 25 feet in length. 
The average cost of such fyke nets as the Chinese use is $15; those employed by the white 
fishermen cost $10 or less, having a larger mesh. 
In setting a fyke net the ends are fastened to stakes driven into the bottom, the leader — if one is 
used — being kept in position in the same way. In places where there is little current, the hag end of 
the net is made fast to a stake, hut where the current runs swiftly it is allowed to swing freely by its 
mouth fastenings. Where the tide ebbs and Hows, the month of the net is changed at each turn of the tide. 
In Oregon the fyke net is used wholly for the purpose of taking catfish, although other species 
are frequently caught in it. The nets are of the same pattern as those of California. In most cases 
they are set double — that is, one leader directs the fish into two nets. The leaders are 150 to 200 feet 
long, and 16 feet deep. The hag end of the nets is made fast to stakes to keep them in shape and 
position, the water being still where this method is used. 
The leaders are so made that they can be easily converted into drag seines, which is often done, and 
hauled over the same ground where the nets were set. This practice is only resorted to when the 
catfish become scarce or other fish are desired. 
At Antioch, Courtlancl, Bonldin Island, and many other places on the San Joaquin 
and Sacramento rivers, trawl lines (locally known as trot lines) take catfish for the 
city markets, local consumption, and family use. The length of the lines varies with 
the river or slough in which they are fished. In the narrow sloughs and upper courses 
of streams they are about 100 feet long, with hooks at intervals of 2 or 3 feet, but in 
the wide .sloughs and the lower parts of rivers they are often 700 to 800 feet long, with 
250 to 300 hooks. When the current is swift, a wire ground line is used, but in other 
situations the bottom line is of twine. The hooks are small, being about the size of 
mackerel hooks employed in the New England fisheries. One end of the trawl is 
made fast to the shore, the other end to a stone which serves as an anchor. The line 
is placed either about parallel with the shore or, if the current be not swift, directly 
across the course of the stream or slough. The hooks are baited with fish or meat, 
beef hearts being a favorite bait. 
In the aggregate, considerable quantities of catfish are taken with hand lines. 
Fish thus caught are rarely marketed, except those obtained by the Chinese. Many 
of the catfish sold in the Chinese fish markets of Portland are taken with hook and 
line. At places on the Sacramento River drop nets or dip nets, baited with meat or 
fish, are fished from wharves. Often large hauls of catfish are made in this way. Such 
nets are usually operated by boys, and the fish taken are apt to be small. 
Catfish are usually dressed by the fishermen before they are sent to market, the 
cleaning being done on the fishing-grounds. The nets are hauled two or three times 
a week, usually in the afternoon, according to the demand for and abundance of fish, 
while the forenoon is spent in dressing and boxing the fish, which are kept in the live- 
cars until required. The fish are prepared for market by removing the skin, head, 
and viscera, and packed in boxes holding about 150 pounds, no ice being used. 
The fishermen supplying the Sacramento market usually deliver their fish alive to 
the dealers, who have live-cars conveniently located and can dress the fish as needed. 
The San Francisco and Portland fish markets are so far from the water front that the 
dealers can not keep the fish alive. 
