NOTES ON THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST IN 1899, 
By Wiiitam A. WILcox. 
The present investigation of the Pacific coast fisheries of Washing- 
ton, Oregon, and California is the fourth one the writer has made 
for the U.S. Fish Commission between 1889 and 1899. Favorable 
opportunities have therefore been afforded to observe the changes 
from time to time, and particularly the steady growth in the business, 
as indicated by capital, products, and number of employees, until, as 
here shown, it represents in capital $12,873,379, in first value of 
products $6,278,639, and in persons employed 19,528. 
The Pacific coast fishery industries began with the taking of salmon ~ 
for local use. Other fish than salmon were long disregarded, but 
subsequently have been marketed and will continue to be of more 
and more importance. Many places off the shores of Washington 
and Oregon in which fish are shown to be plentiful will be utilized 
‘much more in the future. 
The wonderfully developed salmon-canning industry has given 
employment to many thousands of persons and furnishes a fine article 
of food that has found a market in every part of the globe. Fresh 
salmon has also largely increased in the quantity used and in the range 
of its distribution, being now quite reasonable in price not only in all 
the leading markets of the United States, but even in some of the 
countries of Europe. 
The recent decrease in many valuable salmon fisheries is attributed 
chiefly to overfishing. This has, so far as possible, been remedied by 
artificial propagation, the benefits of which are being fully demon- 
strated and appreciated. If the salmon or other fisheries are to be 
sustained they must receive protection in every way. ‘This applies 
to no particular section, but to any in which the fisheries are pros- 
ecuted for business or pleasure. 
Several valuable species of fish hitherto unknown to Pacifie waters 
(notably the shad and striped bass) have been introduced from Atlantic 
waters, and have found most favorable conditions for their existence, 
as shown by their remarkable increase. As the fine quality of these 
fish becomes generally known they add a yearly increase to the income 
of the fishermen at several places, but chiefly those of San Francisco 
503 
