22 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
FISHERY AND CANNERY METHODS. 
THE FISHERIES. 
The methods employed in taking fish at the fisheries are given in detail in the 
descriptions of the canneries and streams, and will only be briefly referred to here. 
Each locality has its own methods, obtained by experience and believed to be the best. 
In general it may be said that in localities where the water is discolored gill nets are 
used, and if the topographical conditions are favorable traps are added; where the 
water is clear, drag seines give the best results. In southeast Alaska drag seines are 
used exclusively except at Chilkat and Wrangell. Drifting gill nets are used in 
Ohilkat Inlet and at Taku by the cannery fishermen, while the Indians use small nets 
and gaffs in Chilkat and Chilkoot rivers, as described under other headings. The 
cannery at Wrangell uses gill nets in the fisheries at the mouth of the Stikine, but all 
fish obtained for this cannery in other localities are taken in drag seines. Spasmodic 
attempts have been made to work traps in southeast Alaska, but the results have not 
warranted the expense. Gill nets and purse seines have been tried in the lower 
section, but with indifferent success. 
The canneries in Prince William Sound fish the Copper River delta with drifting 
gill nets, and the Prince William Sound streams with drag seines. In Cook Inlet the 
fishing is done with drifting gill nets, and by traps at prominent points along the 
shore leading to the rivers, and in the mouths of the rivers. 
On Kadiak Island drag seines are used — a description of which will be found in 
the report — though gill nets have been experimented with, and for several years huge 
floating traps have been tried at Uganuk. The fishery at Chignik is carrried on prin- 
cipally with traps, but drag seines are also used and formerly gill nets, but these are 
not much in vogue now. lu Bering Sea the fish are taken in gill nets and traps. 
Outside of southeast Alaska the fishing is carried on entirely by the canneries; 
that is, when the cannery ships proceed to their stations in early spring they carry 
fishermen with whom contracts have been made for the season. Occasioually fresh 
fish are bought from the natives; but there are few natives, and fewer still who care 
to exert themselves beyond taking fish for their own wants, so that the number of 
fish thus furnished is extremely small, and the canneries can not depend upon this 
source of supply. 
In southeast Alaska, while each cannery has fishermen of its own, a large part of 
the supply comes by purchase from native and white fishermen. These fisheries are 
conducted in various ways. A salteiy may have been established by a white man 
near some stream or streams, and a certaiji right to the fishery is recognized. A 
cannery makes a contract with him to take all his catch at a certain rate, the steamer 
calling for the fish at fixed intervals. He employs his own men, boats, gear, etc. Or 
a cannery may supply natives, who claim to have rights in a stream, with nets and 
boats on condition that they sell all their catch to the cannery at certain fixed rates. 
A third method is for a cannery to send its owm fishermen into a locality to do the 
fishing. 
Many disputes arise concerning the fisheries. A native, whose ancestors have 
lived on a certain stream for many generations, and whose rights are respected by 
