68 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
and October, 1887, but she also proved a failure. Her catch was fairly good, and had 
she been able to market her fish promptly the venture would have turned out profit- 
ably. The different fish taken by the Dolphin were classified as follows, namely ; Sole, 
flounders, h;ike, cod, rock cod, and halibut; very few cod and halibut were obtained, 
but sole predominated, although, at times, rock cod were abundant. Crabs and a few 
large clams were also included in her capture. 
Fishing vessels . — The fisheries of Astoria are chiefly confined to the capture of 
salmon. Several attempts have been made to establish other kinds of fisheries, but 
without success. The priucipal cause of these repeated failures has undoubtedly been 
the uuseaworthiness of the boats and vessels fitted out to engage in fishing off the 
coasts of Oregon and Washington Territory, where gales of wind frequently occur 
during both summer and winter. This coast, south of the Straits of Fuca, also has 
very few harbors, which are indispensable to a fishiug fleet in time of storms, especially 
when the fishing grounds are so near the land as to leave but little sea room to leeward, 
with the wind blowing on the shore. The class of vessels that resort to George’s and 
the Grand Bank could easily work off shore in an ordinary gale of wind, but there 
are times when even such staunch crafts as these would find the task difficult, if not 
impossible. The introduction of a better class of sea- going boats would, however, 
greatly lessen the dangers which now exist. 
Salmon canneries . — The salmon canneries were closed at the time of the visit of the 
Albatross, and no particulars of their operations during the previous season could be 
obtained. 
Gill nets . — Salmon are caught in the Columbia Eiver principally in gill nets, 
although a few are taken by means of drag seines and traps. The gill nets measure from 
250 to 300 fathoms in length, from 36 to 45 feet in depth, and have a mesh of 8J and 9 
inches. Their cost is from $300 to $400. All of the nets were formerly knit by the 
fishermen during the winter months, but many of them are now obtained from east- 
ern manufacturers. 
Boats. —The boats from which the gill nets are set and hauled are 28 to 35 feet long, 
7 to 10 feet wide, and 2J feet deep. Two men generally go in each boat, but some- 
times three, dependent upon the abundance of salmon. Most of the boats are carvel- 
built, but a few are clinker. Their cost, fully rigged for work, is about $200. They are 
all furnished with center- boards, and have but little dead-rise. The customary rig is 
that of a sloop, but a few are cat-rigged. A wash-rail runs fore and aft, about 1 foot 
inboard. This, together with the fshort deck forward, through which the mast is 
stepped, is all there is to prevent a sea from boarding them. Both fore and aft of the 
center-board casing there is a bulkhead running athwartships. The intervening space 
is covered with boards, and forms the hold, into which the fish are thrown as they are 
released from the net. In their general shape these boats resemble tbe so-called 
“carry-away boats” used in the early days of the menhaden fishery on the Hew Eng- 
land coast. The accommodations for living in these Columbia Eiver boats are 
wretched; but the men sleep and eat upon them, taking their rest at night in the 
bottom of the boat, where there is barely room for one man to lie, even in a cramped 
position. The mode of living of these men is similar to that of the French boat fish- 
ermen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; but it contrasts strangely with the condition of 
affairs existing on the typical Hew England fishing vessel. 
