REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 163 
FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
A canvass of the fisheries of the Pacific coast States for 1899, the 
general results of which were announced in a statistical bulletin, No. 
20, Shows these important fisheries to be now more extensive than 
during any previous year for which full records exist. This is due 
chiefly to the great development of the salmon-canning industry in 
northern Washington. 
In 1899 there were employed in the fisheries of these States 19,528 
persons. The total investment in the industry was $12,873,379, and the 
products, amounting to 217,965,156 pounds, were valued at $6,278,639. 
Since the last canvass of these fisheries (for 1895) the number of per- 
sons engaged has increased by 2,223. The increase in the investment 
amounts to $5,599,200, while the increase in yield and value amounts 
to 70,735,977 pounds and $1,808,687. 
Although the fisheries in general have increased in both Washing- 
ton and California, there has been a falling off in the yield and value 
of the fisheries of Oregon, traceable to a smaller catch of salmon in 
the Columbia River. 
The amount of capital invested in the fisheries of California has 
not changed materially since 1895. In Washington the investment 
has increased by $4,576,774. 
Salmon constitute by far the most important feature of the fish- 
eries, the yield for 1899 being worth at first cost $3,504,622. The next 
item in importance is oysters, worth $1,043,192. The oyster industry 
consists chiefly in the growing of the seed of eastern oysters trans- 
planted to San Francisco Bay. Other important fisheries are whale 
products, worth $456,733; cod, worth $201,304; halibut, worth $192,580; 
shrimp, worth $107,957, and crabs, worth $99,518, all other items being 
represented by smaller amounts. 
The following table presents, by States, statistics of the fisheries of 
this region for 1899: 
Fisheries of the Pacific Coast States, 1899. 



















reSncs Washington. Oregon. California. Total. 
No. Value. | No. | Value. No. | Value. No. Value. 
Personsemployed....--=-| 9,911 |...-..---- PGC b Ss eee eee SUE He | eee 19-5251 |= ae eee 
Vessels fishing --- ..-.___- 32 | $72,400 1 $6, 000 33 | $700,870 66 | $779,270 
Monmnngel- 31.2 012.22. O59) ||sa2 ae eee) Ooh tees S3 DB, DbeA See sa 6900) | Seen 
OutHt: 2.5 --- pecsseees | SAE TI ae 2 635) keane oe (I IS cy On lee eee 458, 337 
Vessels tr ansporting _- 7 275, 200 30 66, 300 15 55, 800 117 397, 300 
PROHMAGS. = 52 Oe {ERAN | Soeeee eS aee 3:3, 0 IE eee 6: al eer ke 21386: | 2-22 eee 
‘Chyna = ee PARE, ead tel (ee pee ASASO I 0 oe he Zi Uy eae te 95, O24 
EU ies 2,566 | 233,475 | 1,830) 198,240 | 1,855 | 150,335 5, 751 582, 050 
PUe-ATIVOES 4.50. snarl. 30 63, 283 1 TOO Mi 35a Sie Se 31 64,283 
SELIG T! Sees Se a 205 93, 420 46 19,910 115 13, 230 366 126, 560 
Pound nets. se Bee fan 540 |1, 552, 650 65 AD: COD) a Pee Se | 605 | 1,597,850 
Gallien en | 1,900" 119; 591! |. 2067 | (297;7 1,979 | 166,841 | 5,946 584, 132 
Trammel nets._.___.__-_- Pee ME | anh seal Al Ee as ae ee 591 26, 280 591 26, 280 
HiGop deta esas | 2-8! 20 eee he ee 2,325 1,829 | 1,537 | 3, O74 3, 862 4,903 
SEG ETpI 1G [ttj-52 5 nee ee ee i i (einen [eerie 1,370 | 27,800 1,370 27, 800 
DUA Celtel): ea 70 700 36 360 356 1, 424 462 2,484 
Wheels ( mh Boi 29 66, 300 AT ole ASD B00 |). o eae see 76 187, 600 
Lehi gli: eo ee ae a ee <A ee 4 1, 400 4 1, 400 
i aipereiopeayt: 2 Se Sat) Bes ie eee Seen een bee tee 578 664 578 664 
Dredges, tongs,rakes, etal eae Sah BETS eee 16: 0M (eeas 1h ho] (ea ee 3, 900 
Lines—hand and trawl. |____.-__- 6G; 418) |2.2e_-* Aaa se ye 8 BEA ee ees 11, 058 
Other apparatus. - Ee 2iB00!)|'sasa2s=~ C211] eee M2 eee ALT 
Shore property -------.- a} ee I ZOO B92 eae US) eae ES eee Se SZOlG50 TE? 2 3, 194. 690 
Cash oo A ares Tala eee OOS OTE Nicnincee Lob: OOO 222... 22 TINO ese 4, 720. 677 
Total investment_--__}._._.___. 6, (PAS a eee 3,014 O40) [aon CME SERB bias See ce 12, 873, 379 


