FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST IN 1899. 527 
The products comprised 15,470,712 pounds of salmon, 3,846,000 
pounds of halibut, 234,833 pounds of other species of fresh fish, and 
550,000 pounds of salted cod. This catch, with the exception of cod and 
part of the halibut, was made in the waters of the State by 893 fisher- 
men of King County, fishing through the waters of Puget Sound. 
The investment in vessels, boats, fishing apparatus and shore property 
in the county amounted to $204,002, which amount, with a cash capital 
of $549,000, makes a total of $753,002 invested in the fisheries of King 
County. The two canneries at Seattle put up 91,500 cases of salmon, 
valued at $344,225, using 6,105,938 pounds of fish, gross weight. 
Seattle is also a market for fishery products from other sections of the 
State. The wholesale dealers handle most of the fish fresh. In 1899 
they shipped 10,418,908 pounds, to which may be added 752,852 pounds 
of salted fish. The oysters, crabs, clams, shrimp, and mussels handled 
represented $85,265 in value. 

STARRY OR CALIFORNIA FLOUNDER (Paralichthys stellatus). 
The increase in salmon and halibut taken by the home fisheries since 
1895 was as follows: 



Species. 1895. 1899. 
Pounds. Pounds. 
SCSRTT ETE Ae aa ee EES RRA eee i SA hae bd 9 ER ee rs ee ee a eae 3, 994, 650 15, 470, 712 
ERNE ESLER ere eae as Mine ESR AS Sth I Meare tel aiata,choid/e cin aaeeeeiee = 790, 000 3, 346, 000 

Considerable quantities of salmon, halibut, and herring were smoked, 
and this business slowly increases. The products show a great improve- 
ment in quality, and will compare favorably with those of any section 
of the country. Some Seattle firms have establishments in Alaska 
where the salting of salmon is largely carried on, the salted fish finding 
a growing market in the Eastern States and in Japan. 
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