286 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Sy.-REPORT OIV TIlKJPACKliVfci OF SALMOIV OX THE PACIFIC COAST 



FKOira 1>>S3 TO 1S86. 



By LOREIV W. GREEIV. 



I liave lately visited all the salmou cauueries on the Sacramento 

 River and seen their agents, for the purpose of obtaining the statistics 

 of the catch of salmon for this and past seasons. Among the results of 

 my visit is a table giving the pack of salmon (in cases, each containing 

 48 one-pound tin cans) for each river on the Pacific coast for the years 

 1883, 1884, 1885, and 1886, which is appended to this report. Also I 

 append a table showing the names of the canneries on the Sacramento 

 Eiver, with their locations, brands, and agents at San Francisco. 



In the year 1883 but little effort was made to secure all the salmon 

 required, and large numbers were allowed to pass on their way to the 

 headwaters for the purpose of depositing their spawn. 



In 1884 a scarcity was noticeable, and immediately seines were en- 

 larged, more boats and men employed, and fishing was carried on gen- 

 erally with greater diligence. But, notwithstanding all the extra exer- 

 tion employed, the decrease from the pack of 1883 on the Sacramento 

 Eiver alone was 65,000 cases, and the decrease of those reaching the 

 headwaters was, at a moderate estimate, 60 per cent. 



In 1885 fishing was again diligently carried on from the beginning 

 to the end of the season, and the decrease from 1884, as seen by the 

 figures given, was 46,500 cases. The number of salmon reaching the 

 headwaters was only about one-half as many as those of the preceding 

 year. 



During the present year (1886) the agents have used all available 

 means for securing a large number of fish. As the demand for canned 

 salmon is steadily increasing, upwards of 1,000 boats and 2,000 men 

 were employed in fishing for salmon on the Sacramento Eiver. But it 

 must be stated that matters have been somewhat unfavorable for them 

 in this year's fishing, for in the early spring the water was unusually 

 high, which confined these fishermen more to the bars and allowed a 

 considerable percentage of the first run to pass their seines ; also, the 

 California fish commissioners caused a law to be passed prohibiting the 

 fishing with seines after September 1, which was one month sooner than 

 in past seasons. The total number of cases canned for this season was 

 30,000. 



In talking with the agents of the canneries, as well as with those en- 

 gaged in the fishing, I found them to differ somewhat in opinion as re- 

 gards the cause of this decrease in salmon. Some believed that the sea- 

 lions are doing great damage in the way of destroying the large salmon 

 as they come in from the ocean on the way to their spawning grounds. 

 Others, that the catfish are very destructive, following the salmon to 



