The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-20


meshes are large enough to permit
other varieties of fish to so through
the gill METER doesn't have to even
bother about disposing of fish that
he doesn't van as does the pound net
man and the seine hauler.
OF the. three methods of catching
the fish the Seine hauling is the most
spectacular. The small fishermen
make their hauls on the beach, some
hauling in by hands others using
horses, but the larger fishermen use
great floats anchored in the middle of
the river and the hauling is lone by
steam engines.
These floats are veritablc islands,
made up of half Il dozen RATS dashed
together and Covering an area of 200
feet square, or more. On these RATS
10 or SO men make their homes dur
ing the season. on the main raft are
the bunkhouses, the kitchen and the
engine houses, while on other RATS are
the cleaning sheds, etc. In front of
the main rafta is the hauling float. A
huge portion .pf the float not seen is
the apron aTbis is a platform that
extends from the outer edge of the
hauling float ana is under the water.
on the apron the net is hauled
first and there the fish are punched
in the center of the net before being
hauled out.
J The fishermen are divided into three
cangs-landmen, boatmen and cutters.
The nndmen have charge of the net,
haul ittand carry the fish to the cut
ters who cute CLEAN and pack the fish
for market. The boatmen set the net.
on the raft each gang has its own
quarters and the two ends Of the net
and the hauling float are known as
land and boat ends so that there
is no confusion as to which end is
which.
At each end of the float is a steam
engine, one being the "land" engine
and the other the "boat' engine
These cngincs are not only used for
hauling the seine but are also useful
in moving the raft from one anchor
age to another by means of ropes that
are run to anchors planted up stream.
Sometimes lines are run to trees along
the bank.
The seine boat which plays such an
important part is a huge rowboat in
the after part of which the net is
carefully laid on top Of the "boat
end rope. In laying the seine in the
boat the greatest care Is exercised,
all the floats, or Corks, are laid on one
side, the lead line is coiled on the
other and between the net is laid in
folds, On top of tile net is coiled the
land end rope and the boat is ready
to start.
"All aboard," shouts the BOAT boss
and the boatmen AXE their places at
the oars. Give way," is the COM
mand and the great boa starts up
stream, the land end rope paying
out as it goes. When the last Of
the rope is overheard (and by this
time the boat is fully half a mile
from thet float, the net is paid out
as the boat is swept in a half circle
across the river. When the last of
the net is out the boat is headed for
the float, towing the boat end rope.
Now begins the work of the engines,
each with a rope and foot by foot the
great seine is dragged in. The land
end being the shorter comes in first
and as soon as it gets to the apron
the engineer whistles. the landmen
spring to their feet and the cup
stream" gang takes hold of the net,
drawing it in. AS the net comes in
some or the men stand on the apron
and hold the lead line down to prevent
the fish from getting under.
foot. Toot!" calls the boat end
whistle and the down stream men
take their places at their end Of the
net n begin to haul. In the mean
time other lines have been run from
the engines to the net and with men
and power the seine is slowly hauled in,
the men at each end shaking the fish
toward the center.
AS the net comes in and one can
see the cork floats forming a semi
circle off the float the water begins
to bubble and swirl. 1t is the fish
making frantic efforts to escape and
as hundreds Of them leap into the
air the sun glistens on their ~silvery
bodies. Foot by foot the net comes
in and the fish are rolled resistlessly
along until the edge of the lead line
reaches the upper edge Of the aporn
Now, all together shouts the
boss and the entire gang of landmer
line up ON the edge Of the float, grasI
the cork line and begin heaving in
gathering the net III folds in theil