The Great Salmon Haul at Hat Island
A record-breaking catch of silver salmon near the mouth of the Snohomish River turns into a frantic struggle as nets break under the weight of the fish.
The other day George T. Myers met two boats of fishermen with his steamer Nellie at Hat Island, near the mouth of the Snohomish River. On Tuesday, the largest single haul of silver salmon ever made on Puget Sound was made by Seine No. 2, the catch being 1,600 fish, weighing on an average 12 pounds each, or over 10 tons of fish. The Seine No. 1 at the same time had a larger haul, but the crew being inexperienced, hauled the net too rapidly and raised the salmon into too small a space, breaking the seine and letting most of the fish escape. It is believed they had at least 4,000 fish, but at last account they only secured 600. After two days' fishing at Hat Island, the Nellie brought to this city yesterday 5,000 silver salmon, and later in the day 1,500 more. This was divided with S.B. Fales. Having exhausted his cans and salt, Mr. Myers will sell the remainder of this season's catch.
“The Seine No. 1 at the same time had a larger haul, but the crew being inexperienced, hauled the net too rapidly and raised the salmon into too small a space, breaking the seine and letting most of the fish escape.”
The massive salmon runs that defined the early commercial economy of Puget Sound have been severely depleted by overfishing and habitat loss. This story captures the brutal, industrial intensity of that early commercial exploitation.
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