The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03

and considerable tsrns is hst. tns number
caken IN a day by O skiltful srcslsr is by
no Ensars srccrssderahle.
The Modern Methods.
These uaethecs OF catching fish although
effective 20 limited extent are utterly
inadequate 70 supply ths enormous de-
nrands OF the canneries ard wholesale
hsh-sn. piping houses OF this state. one
after another the modern methods we're
introduced and now r1tiaoas % salmon
are caught annually by methods
other than those already described.
This vast catch may Do said 70
be the result Of SIX systems. viz; The deep
water or purse seine. beach seiaes. traps.
wheels, drifting gil nets and set g4R necs.
Fish traps are very simple IN principle
and consist OF two parts. the lead and <hs
"pct'' or net in which the FISH are finally
caught. In making the lead channel IS
selected thsf Is favcr.te runway FOR sal
mon and two rows OF piles are driven cp-
pos. e % one another. ou< conVerg. as u4l-
III al thu end there Ia but few feet EFT
between them. In this narrow opening IS
placed the pot or net. Which Gepends
from large hoop, Wire screening or net
ting IS fastened between thu pales and con-
s;ftu1es the lead. preventing tbs Ash that
have once gotten between them from es-
Gaping On either side and eventually lead
Ing them into the pct" or net at the apex.
These traps are pretty generally distrsa-
uted over the fishing grounds Of the state
from the Columbia on the south TO Beiling-
ham bay on the north, and are al exceed
ingiy effective way OF catching salmon. as
many as q. 600 az times being found In the
pot at one catch. This pot 10 lifted twice
Ia every "a hours al low water and its con-
tents conveyed 70 the canneries by steam
eTs, sal or TOW boats as the distance may
require. On Puges sound the sockeye and
silver salmons are the varieties principally
trapped. both large ush and excellent tor
canning, so that owing 20 the proximity OF
large canner.es both in this country and
British Columbia trapping IS the fsvorits
methed of fishing on the lower Souls
Salmon traps we're nrst erected at Point
Roberts nearly opposite the mouth of the
Fraser riyeT. a place eminsnt.y suited tor
them as the fish in making for the Fraser
leave the straits and pass through the
narrow and winding channels between the
San Juan islands on their way 10 BelEng-
ham bay Such numbers were caught a,
this locality that not only were new can
ner.es established ia the vicinity, but sew
eral OF the Fraser liver canning establish
ments built traps near Point Roberts part
Iy IN sslf-protecaon, "a they claimed thai
their catch In the river had been sensioly
diminished since rns earlier straps had
been n operation.
The Fish wheel.
The fsh wheel is another simple ouS M
renlols device for the wholesale capture OK
sA.moR. operated on the "leadins priac4-
pie These wheels are used principally on
the Columbia and other streams. as cur
rent Gs necessary for their successful op-
Grafton. A lead similar to those used for
fish traps, but shorter, IL constructed and
the wheel placed in the narrow end. These
wheels may be- Oh shore, built on perfna-
nent structures or on scews, as best suits
the peculiar requirements OF che Locality
selected for their establishment.
The wheel itself resembles closely that
OF a stern-wheel steamer except that be-
tween the two rims are large scoops made
OF wire screening or netting. These scoops
are about eight IN number and are so
fastened 70 the wheel that the convex part
or boteoan Is opposed to the current me
pressure on this causes the wheel TO re-
volvs and the salmon. running up stream
ami guided in front OF the wheel by the
leads are picked up in the scoops as they
emerge. carried over the wneei, ana drop
ped into the Sow behind it. About the
only duty devoiving upon the men in
charge when salmon are running p.entl-
fully Is 10 keep them raked back out or
the way. as all the power is supplied by
the stream.
Use of Purse Sefnes.
peep water or purse seines are employed
I'm great quantities IN the salmon fishery
and are universal In the extent or their use
throughout the state. Especially 10 TINS
true of the Sound, as many as forty seines
being often employed at one time IN Ellioi
bay during the fall run. The seines ara
used from large aatboa;s propelled Dy long
sweens. with a smaller boat known as
ne r,w 4 From
thirteen men are employed on each boat.
according TO the size of the seine. The
latter are enormous concerns, the largest
being over 200 fathoms In length and Y
fathoms In depth. The lower end OF the
seine is edged with q weighted rope called
the lead line. while the upper end is SINH
lar to II, but buoyed with cerlzs, so as TO
float on the surface OF the water. and IS
known as the cork line. Along the lead
line runs another rope attached TO 1t by
rings, technically spoken OF as the purse
line.
The method OF operating is TO put out In
the bay and look for school OF fish,
When one IS sighted. one end OF the seine
is attached 20 the large boat and the
smaller one. containing the seine. starts
out TO surround the school, paving out the
net "a It goes. when the seine boat re-
turns the end OF the net is made fast and
the bottom f. drawn together by the purse
line SO as to form an enormous bag, which
IS gradually drawn into the boat and the
fish taken out. AS many as 1000 salmon
are sometimes taken al one haul. Silver
salmon, on account OF running In large
schools. are the most common victims OF
the purse seine.
On rivers and iniets beach or shore
se!nes are frequently used. These are
similar to the purse senes. but smaller.
seldom exceeding 10 fatboms. Their depth
derends entirely on the character o. the
shore or beach One end IS attached 10 a
post or other structure on the shore and
tar~ other end is taken In boa ard de-
scribes an are. landing some distance down
stream. On account OF the weight OF the
net. n Is rarely hauled by hand. but
tackles are usually rlcged and the powsr
supplied BY horses This Is a fsvorits
method or capturing silver salmon. ~ they
riIn Mp the streams. the fact that they run
In schools rendering Il comparatively easy
to secure large numbers al haul
Gill or nrift Nets.
Cir or drift nets are ussd 20 great al
vantage at the mofshs or rivers. and con-
sist OF nets with meshes Of various sizes.
similar sn general ar9earaneps - seincs
Tire rneshea vary In size from eight 20 rine
inches IN tho Columbia Tor spring salmon,
ana :he same size on Puget sound for
tyees. 10 SIX OF seven inches FOR the blue
backs or s1ckeraa and - fys and one
hals 20 six inches Tor stea,heads.
Tire method Of operating them - simple
The me- With a boat 81 either end. In
stretched nearly ~ right ANGLES across the
streams and together with the boats he
gins 70 drlft Down with the current Ths