94 FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
Halibut are prepared for market by eviscerating and filling the 
cavity with ice. They are then covered with ice and kept in pens in 
the hold of the vessel to prevent them from sliding around. The 
heads of the fish are cut off upon the arrival of the vessel at the home 
dock. 
The fishery is followed throughout the entire year except when the 
vessel is laid up for repairs. Owing to the long distance traveled and 
the rough weather often encountered, halibut fishing constitutes a 
dangerous occupation, some men being lost every year. In 1915, 60 
men were lost. 
In the early days of the halibut fishery the local demand was light, 
a vessel load of 20,000 pounds being sufficient to supply it. In 
addition to halibut, the vessels also bring in small quantities of 
sablefish, the total quantity in 1915 amounting to 575,810 pounds, 
valued at $13,782. is species is one of the most palatable fishes 
found on the Pacific coast, or elsewhere. For some unaccountable 
reason it has not been utilized to any great extent, but the indica- 
tions now are that increasing quantities will be brought in annually. 
Salmon.—The total catch of all species of salmon, including steel- 
head trout, in 1915 amounted to 91,130,492 pounds, valued at 
$2,330,474. The catch of the different species in the order of their 
importance was as follows: Chinook, 18,188,160 pounds, valued at 
$699,771; silver, 18,630,302 pounds, valued at $543,241; humpback, 
29,998,291 pounds, valued at $367,521; blueback or sockeye, 5,043,374 
pounds, valued at $345,810; chum, 17,156,244 pounds, valued at 
$282,842; and steelhead, 2,114,141 pounds, valued at $91,389. The 
greater part of the catch was utilized in canning. Large quanti- 
ties were also used for freezing, smoking, salting, and mild curing. 
From the above, it will be seen that the fishermen received the 
following average prices per pound for the different species: Blue- 
backs, 64 cents; steelhead trout, 4%; cents; chinook, 34 cents; silver, 
27% cents; chum, 13 cents; and humpbacks, 14 cents. 
Chinook.—Chinook salmon are taken in every county of the State 
having fisheries, but Pacific County, with a catch of 4,371,135 pounds, 
is far in the lead. The greater part of the catch is taken in the 
Columbia River. The pound-net fisheries at Chinook and gill-net 
fisheries at Ilwaco contribute a large part of the catch. Wahkiakum 
County, situated entirely on the Culanitad River, ranks next to 
Pacific County, with a catch of 2,600,571 pounds. There are several 
very important fishing points in this county, but Cathlamet, with its 
valuable pound-net and gill-net fisheries, is the leading one. What- 
com and Skagit Counties, both on Puget Sound, also furnish large 
catches of chinook, pound nets being the principal apparatus of 
capture. Cowlitz County, on the Columbia River, and King County, 
on Puget Sound, are also deserving of mention for their output of 
abel This species is taken commercially as far from the coast 
as in the Snake River at Clarkston, Wash., opposite Lewiston, Idaho. 
It is an important item in the seine catch of that vicinity. 
Chinook are found during the entire year in Washington, but the 
best catches are made between May 1 and September 15. Chinook 
average in size from 20 to 25 pounds, but some weighing 100 pounds 
have been taken. The size varies with the apparatus used. The 
average size of those taken in gill nets is probably less than those 
taken with some of the other apparatus, as a gill net with an extra 
