FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1924 



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FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON 



The fisheries of Washington in 1922 employed 7,600 persons, 404 

 vessels, 1,158 power boats, and 248 sail and row boats. The in- 

 vestment in vessels, boats, gear, and shore property amounted to 

 $10,711,500, and the products of the fisheries amounted to 69,469,805 

 pounds, valued at $4,953,913 to the fishermen. 



The various species of salmon were the most important of Wash- 

 ington's fishes, yielding 37,355,667 pounds, valued at $2,179,112. 

 Chinook salmon ranked highest in value, yielding 10,969,802 pounds, 

 valued at $946,422, and silver salmon ranked highest in quantity, 

 yielding 14,816,994 pounds, valued at $546,495. It is estimated 

 that about 83 per cent of the salmon catch was canned, 10 per cent 

 mild cured, salted, and smoked, and the remainder sold fresh or 

 frozen. 



Next to salmon in importance is the halibut. The fleet of halibut 

 vessels registered and sailing from ports in Washington caught 18,467,- 

 422 pounds, valued at $1,904,915. Of this catch 9,011,333 pounds, 

 valued at $993,622, were landed in the State of Washington, 1,348,- 

 213 pounds, valued at $108,054, in Alaska, and 7,936,700 pounds, 

 valued at $786,528, in British Columbia. Practically all of the 

 halibut is sold fresh or frozen and is shipped to many distant points 

 in the United States. The following table gives statistics showing 

 the landings of halibut in Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia 

 by vessels registered in the State of Washington: 



Landings of halibut, by counties, by vessels registered in the State of Washington 



The cod fishery, next in importance to the halibut fishery, was for 

 the most part carried on by a few large vessels sailing from ports in 

 the State of Washington to the cod banks in Alaskan waters, where 

 they fished during the summer months, bringing back their cargoes 

 of salted cod at the end of the season. In tiiis year 1,175,875 pounds 

 of salted cod, valued at $86,395, were reported, which is estimated 

 to be the equivalent of about 2,940,000 pounds of fresh cod. In 

 addition to the salted cod there were 72,741 pounds of fresh cod, 

 valued at $2,182. This makes a total of about 3,000,000 pounds on 

 the fresh basis, as compared with 13,745,710 pounds on the fresh 

 basis reported for 1915. 



The production of other fish in 1922 was 4,408,733 pounds, valued 

 at $158,772, of which sablefish, steelhead trout, smelts, and carp 

 were most important. 



