14 



SALMON GEAR LIMITATION 



10.000 



1.000- 



lOOJ 



10. 

 1946 



Sockeye 



Chum 



Chi nook 



48 



50 



52 



54 

 Year 



56 



58 



60 



62 



FIG. 5. Puget Sound salmon catches. 



Source: Robison, Ward, and Palmen, 1962 Fisheries Statistical Report. 



"imports" of materials and equipment required by fishermen and 

 packers, the industry provides a substantial money inflow to the 

 state. On the basis of a 1955 study it is estimated that no less than 

 80 per cent of the processed value of salmon represents a net addition 

 to state income payments. 



Since salmon fishing in Washington is inevitably a seasonal 

 occupation, it is difficult to give precise figures on full-time employ- 

 ment. In 1961 there were approximately 5,800 licensed fishermen 

 on salmon vessels, and perhaps five times that number of shore 

 workers were required to process and market the catch. In addition, 

 nearly 3,000 Indians fish commercially for salmon. The capital 

 investment in nearly 2,000 salmon fishing vessels and 400 specialized 

 wholesaling processing firms is obviously substantial, though the 

 precise amount is not known. 



