NOTES ON THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 275 
Chinooks in gill nets was so large, that the shortage was overcome, and the aggregate 
season’s pack was much larger than last year. 
Trap fishing in Baker Bay and the lower river was somewhat interfered with by 
the large amount of driftwood brought down by the freshet. Many of the traps, 
especially those on the edge of the channel, became clogged or were torn by brush, 
logs, etc. A few stakes were also washed out by the high water. Swift currents and 
floating debris also interfered with the setting of gill nets and the hauling of seines. 
As is well known, the wheels reipiire a certain amount of high water in order to 
do well. At the Cascades it is found that the largest quantities of fish are taken 
when the height of the river is 20 to 25 feet above mean low water. Several exiilana- 
tious of this circumstance are offered. Some hold that more fish are pronqited to 
enter the river Avhen an unusually large volume of fresh water is being poured into 
the ocean. Mr. Frank M. Warren, who operates wheels extensively and has had nuich 
experience in the matter, attributes the larger catch during high AAmter to the fact 
that the nets in the lower river can not take so many fish and that a larger number 
are able to reach the wheels. During the prevalence of high Avater the gill nets in 
the lower river do not so effectually sweep the bottom, and neAv channels are made on 
the sides of the river, up which the fish may pass unmolested. For detailed data 
showing the relation between the height of water and the catch in wheels, reference 
is made to the table giving the yield of certain wheels at the Cascades. 
The clearness or muddiness of the w'ater has an important bearing on the success 
of the fishing operations of trap and gill net fishermen. Trap nets always do best 
when the water is clear, and gill nets take the most fish Avhen the water is muddy. 
It therefore usually hapiien.s that when traps are making large catches the gill nets 
are likely to have poor luck. The explanation of these phenomena seems to be as 
follows: In muddy water the salmon swim into the gill nets before becoming aware of 
the existence or nature of the obstruction; on the other hand the leader of a pound 
net, with its fine meshes often occluded by grass and other drift material, acts as a 
solid barrier, and when the salmon swim against it they quickly AAuthdraw and move 
in other directions. When the Avater is clear, the fish readily see the gill nets at some 
distance and do not attempt to go through them, but SAvim along the side of the nets 
and go round the ends. In the case of the leaders of traps, the fish act the same Avay 
and are led into the nets, the tendency of the salmon being to go into the heart rather 
than toward the free ends of the leader, for the reason that the water becomes deeper 
in the direction of the pocket. 
STURGEON AND THE STURGEON FISHERY. 
CALIFORNIA. 
The white sturgeon (Acipensef fransmoiitaniis) is one of the most prominent food- 
fishes of the State, its edible qualities and economic value being of high rank. The 
capture of sturgeon for market is iiractically restricted to San Francisco Bay and the 
lower reaches of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The fish is taken with large- 
meshed gill nets, in salmon nets, and Avith set or troll lines provided with unbaited, 
barbless hooks. The principal part of the yield is obtained Avith set lines. In 1893, 
for the first time, a license was required for the use of sturgeon set lines. A license 
fee of $10 was charged to each fisherman. 
