FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST IN 1899. 593 
ers, twine being used for the pots, the latter being in water from 20 
to 78 feet deepat high tide. Onanaverage 250 piles are required for 
a single pound. Eighty-two pound nets were used in the waters of 
Whatcom County in 1899, gill nets and seines being also used to some 
extent. Purse seines are operated considerably in this section by 
fishermen from Seattle and other places. 
The blueback or sockeye salmon are peculiar in being much more 
numerous every fourth year. During 1899 the pound nets would 
often be filled during a single night’s run of these fish. From 5,000 
to 20,000 salmon were frequently taken from a single pound at one 
time. The result of one day’s fishing from one pound, located near 
Point Roberts, was 22,000 salmon, of 132,000 pounds aggregate weight 
and $4,400 value. 
Some of the largest firms have introduced steam pile-drivers, of a 
comparatively new pattern, which are built in Chicago and cost $6,000 
each. One, owned at Fairhaven, was on a scow 23 by 65 feet, being 
45 inches deep; the derrick, 70 feet high; the hammer, of 7,000 pounds, 
is attached to a small cylinder steam engine, that has its piston directly 
attached to the hammer. Steam is carried to the engine by a rubber 
hose that follows it up and down the derrick. The hammer gives a 
quick short blow just the length of the piston, by which the piles are 
much less liable to be damaged and are quicker placed than by the old- 
time drop hammer. Nine men comprise the working crew. 
With the increasing demand for salmon the desirable locations for 
pound nets became of great importance, often forming the basis of 
small fortunes, and between 1889 and 1899 the rush for them was often 
exciting. Locations not already taken could be secured from the State 
by its citizens only, they paying $25 for an annual license, after which a 
numbered license was given that permitted the putting down of a pound 
net in any of the waters of the State not already occupied. The 
requisites to secure the location were the driving of a few piles on the 
spot selected and attaching on the same a conspicuously painted number 
of the license. In numerous cases license fees have been paid, a few 
piles have been placed and numbered, but the pound nets have not been 
put down. The State report of pounds licensed therefore often varies 
considerably from the number in actual use. 
During 1898 and 1899 pound nets in the most desirable locations have 
changed hands at prices ranging as high as from $20,000 to $90,000 for 
single pounds, the original expense of which did not exceed $5,000. 
Five pounds, with fixtures and location, were reported as having been 
sold during 1899 at prices ranging from $35,000 to $90,000, the aggre- 
gate being $300,000. It is not probable that such high values will 
ever be realized again. 
Fairhaven being near the valuable fishing waters of Whatcom 
County, and also having desirable rail and water shipping facilities, 
has of late come into fishery prominence. Previous to 1895 only a 
