ple REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON. 
The remarkable growth in the fisheries of Washington between 
1895 and 1899 has probably never been exceeded in so short a time 
in any section of the country. The capital invested has increased from 
$2,024,469 to $6,601,243, the value of products to the producer from 
$1,402,433 to $2,871,488, and the employees from 6,212 to 9,911. By 
far the largest portion of this increase has been in the catch and can- 
ning of salmon, the increase in canneries being from 17 in 1895 to 28 
in 1899, the new canneries having more than double the capacity of the 
former ones. The halibut fishery has increased from 1,714,315 pounds 
in 1895 to 6,860,640 pounds in 1899, and the oyster fishery, in value 
of products, from $109,232 to $174,567. With the exception of the 
now prohibited fur-seal fishery, all branches of the fishing business 
have been prosperous and show a gain in products, the aggregate gain 
in pounds being from 59,079,527 in 1895 to 120,587,726 in 1899; and 
this large increase has been met by a constant demand, at prices 
encouraging to the producer and reasonable for the consumer. 






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STEELHEAD (Salmo gairdner?). 
The three following tables show the apparatus and capital, the num- 
ber of persons employed, and the products of the fisheries of the State 
of Washington in 1899: 
Table of apparatus and capital. 







Items. No. Value. | Items. No. Value. 
Vessels fishing.2 2-2 sen. o5 4s. | 32 $72,400 | Apparatus—shore __ fisher- 
MOMMA OS especie sce eee fish hom Sodeebdaoc ies—continued. 
Outiitsse se 5-c oon ence eee Vefeeioreteys 44,(15:\|| ““sReekmets 4. 4e.seseenene 20 $600 
Vessels transporting. .......- 2 275, 200 DipmMets eae aceees eeceeeee 55 140 
MONNAG C25 22sec eae IL ODOM Wee to ancie ei cae ||*o'Crabipotsssceeese ee esaeee 574 685 
Ombhites Saoeesiteee cs eeseees I spevopsteteys 86, 314 Wiheelsis.5..deesa20 -seeeeee 29 66, 300 
IBORTS ecstatic oecewtiecicecee 2, 566 233, 475 | Spears sistas 88 255 
Pile-Griviers: 2 le akse<amalsa= eee 30 63,283 || Lines—trawl and hand...|.-..-.- 638 
Apparatus—vessel fisheries: | Harpoonsssssee. cee eee eee 675 
DTC OPES ac Hecke de cesce | 1 100 Dredges, tongs, rakes, ete .|....--- 3, 453 
Lines, trawl and hand....- ae oe 5,780 || Shore and accessory prop- 
Apparatus—shore fisheries: | OTty co. see Seteeeceeseeea tees 1, 200, 892 
Seimespetecesoceteeccseeses 205 93,420) ||| Cashicapitdliascssc-ce= seen |oeeeeee 2,779, 977 
Gill mets eos ssen 52s ias sce. 1, 900 119, 591 | |} —_——_—_. 
Round mets eae se hess 2k. | 540 1, 552, 650 Totally. secvies see ete etelleee soe 6, 601, 243 
Myke metsiacaseceseean es | 70 700 

~~ — = : ——— - ~ $s 


