THE SALMON FISHERIES 113 



and which are of primary importance. Red salmon runs have been 

 rebuilt under the International Sockeye Commission into substantial 

 productions. Pink salmon in this area are taken in considerable quantities 

 on odd-numbered years while the even-numbered years produce very 

 small productions. A considerable number of chum salmon are also taken 

 in this district on the west coast of Vancouver Island and from Johnston 

 Straits. These areas are fished by seine and gill nets and are usually of 

 very good quality during the peak of the runs. 



There is a good troll fishery for king and silver salmon along the coast 

 of British Columbia and also in the straits behind the coastal islands. 



Puget Sound. Puget Sound has a salmon fishery very similar to the 

 southern part of British Columbia. It is dependent largely on a part of 

 the Eraser River runs for red and pink salmon and is consequently 

 under regulation of the International Commission. The waters of Puget 

 Sound and its river systems also produce some pink and chum salmon. 



Fishing in this area is carried out primarily with purse seines, gill nets, 

 and reef nets. 



Washington Coast. The Washington Coast produces its best quality 

 commercial fish as troll fish taken the entire length of the coast. There 

 are small fisheries for chum and silver salmon by gill nets in Grays 

 Harbor and Willapa Harbor. The Quinalt River has a small commercial 

 run of sockeye salmon, a large part of which goes on the fresh market 

 and the balance is canned. This run is of high quality and is characterized 

 by small fish with deep color and large amounts of free oil. 



Columbia River. The Columbia River fishery is a gill net commercial 

 fishery in the river which produces primarily chinook salmon. This fishery 

 has one of the longest yearly seasons, lasting from May into October 

 with closed period to allow for escape of spawners. The early catches 

 from this river system are very high quality and are canned and handled 

 for the fresh and frozen markets. 



Oregon Coast. The Oregon Coast produces primarily chinook and 

 silver salmon which are taken by trollers, and the major portion of this 

 catch is used in the fresh and frozen market. During heavy production 

 periods, a part of this catch is canned. 



California Coast. This area from the Oregon border to San Francisco 

 Bay is also a chinook and silver salmon producing fishery. The salmon are 

 taken by trollers and the catch is used in the fresh and frozen market. 

 There is very little salmon canned in California. 



Preservation of the Catch 



Three periods are important in the preservation of salmon after they 

 are caught by the commercial fisherman and until the fish are processed: 

 (1) while the fish are in the hands of the fisherman, (2) while they are 



