PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 33 



this slow and infrequent means of shipment has ver^ seriously handi- 

 capped the fisheries. 



Salmon canning began here in 1887, when two canneries opened for 

 business. The business has fluctuated considerably since, most of 

 the time but one cannery being operated; none was operated in 1919. 



Fishing is carried on mainly in the bay. A few set nets are operated 

 in the river. 



Coquille River. — This river is formed by three branches, called the 

 North, Middle, and South Forks, which rise in the Umpqua Moun- 

 tains and unite near Myrtle Point, the head of tidewater, about 45 

 miles by river from the mouth of the stream. It is a deep and slug- 

 gish river, with no natural obstructions to hinder the free passage of 

 nsh. Its fisheries have been seriously hamj^ered by the lack of rail- 

 road communication, but this has recently been remedied, as the rail- 

 road to Coos Bay connects with a short line now in existence between 

 the Coquille River and Coos Bay, and thence on to the Siuslaw and 

 from there to Eugene. 



The principal towns on the Conuille River arc Bandon, Prosper, 

 Coquille, an(l Myrtle Point. Bandon is the shipping port. 



Pickled salmon were cured and shipped from tnis river very early, 

 the first recorded instance of any considerable quantity being in 1877, 

 when 3,000 barrels of salmon were sent to San Francisco. The salt 

 shipments were important until within recent years. The first salmon 

 cannery was erected in 1883, at Parkersburg. In 18S6 another was 

 built at the same j)lace, and the following year still another was 

 erected close by. This wa> the largest number ever in operation in 

 any one year. Since 1909 two canneries have been operated, both at 

 Prosper. In 1916 the Macleay estate took over the Coquille River 

 Fishermen's Cooperative Co.'s cannery near Bandon. 



The fishing grounds are from the mouth to Myrtle Point, about 45 

 miles inland. 



Sixes Hirer. — This small river is located in the norther part of 

 Curry County, and is about 40 miles in length, ( iilerin!; t e Pacific 

 a very short distance above Cape Blanco. The salmon caught here 

 are either salted or shipped fresh to the canneries on the Coquille 

 River. 



/sY/i- River. — This is another small stream al)()ut 40 miles in lenjjth, 

 which enters the Pacific just south of Cape Blanco. As on the Sixes 

 River, the salmon are either salted or sold fresh to the canneries on 

 the Coquille River. 



Rogue River. — This river has as its source Crater Lake in the Cas- 

 cade Mountains, on the western border of Klamatli County, flow- 

 inf; a distance of about 325 miles to the ocean, which it enters at 

 \\ edderburn. Its principal tributaries are the Illinois, Applegate, 

 and Stewart Rivers. Owing to canyons and falls in the main river 

 between the mouth of the Illinois River and llellgate, the latter 

 near Ilogan Creek which runs through the town of Merlin, naviga- 

 tion and fishing are impossible in that section. Except at the mouth 

 of the river tlie population is very sparse until about the neighbor- 

 hood of Hogan Creek, where the river approaches the railroad, and 

 from here on for some miles th(>re are numerous growing towns. 



Owing to the fact of there being both a spring and a fall run of 

 salmon in this river, the fisheries early became of importance, 

 lWJi:°- 21 y 



