PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES 435 



The best fishing grounds mo from tho mouth of the river to about 

 f) miles inhmd. 



Siudaw River.— This river has its source in the mountains of Lane 

 County, and its course Hes first in a northwesterly direction and to 

 the westward until the Pacific is reached. Through part of its course 

 it is the dividing line between Lane and Douglas Counties. In 1915 

 a railroad line from Eugene to tho mouth of the Siuslaw River, at 

 which point it connected with a line to the Coquille River, was 

 opened for traffic. 



As early as 1878 there were two canneries operated on this river, 

 but from 1879 till 1888 there are no data available showing the extent 

 of the fisheries. In 1888 the Florence Canning Co., the Lone Star 

 Packing Co., and the Elmore Packing Co. each operated a cannery. 

 In 1896 A. W. Hurd built a cannery which was destroyed by fire m 

 1908. No cannery has been operated since 1919. The opening of a 

 railroad line from Eugene to here, thus furnishing an outlet for fresh 

 salmon shipments, has greatly helped in developing its fisheries, and 

 has cut off the supply of salmon for canning. 



The salmon fishing grounds extend from near the mouth of the 

 river to about 20 miles upstream. 



Umpqua River. — With the exception of the Columbia this is the 

 largest and longest river in Oregon. It is formed by north and south 

 forks, which unite about 9 miles northwest of Roseburg, and the 

 river then flows northwestwardly and enters the Pacific. Practically 

 all of this river is within the boundaries of Douglas County, one of 

 the largest counties in the State. A railroad has recently been built 

 along this river and in time there will doubtless be a large development 

 of the fisheries of this region owing to the opportunities which will 

 be offered for shipping fresh fish. 



With the exception of Rogue River, this is the only river in Oregon 

 south of the Columbia River in which a spring run of chinook salmon 

 occurs. 



As early as 1878 there were two canneries located on the Umpqua, 

 one of which was built by George W. Hume. The number has never 

 been larger than this, and usually there has been but one operating. 

 In 1912 there was but one at Gardiner. In 1919 one was operated. 

 Since then but one has operated and this only in 1923, 1924, 1925, 

 1926, and 1927. 



In 1918 the Reedsport Fish Co., of Reedsport, purchased the can- 

 nery of the Umpqua Cooperative Co., at Gardiner. 



Coos Bay and River. — Coos Bay is a navigable semicircular inlet 

 of the ocean with numerous arms or branches. There is much 

 marshy ground in the bay, and a number of sloughs, or small creeks, 

 which empty into the bay from both sides. Coos River proper is an 

 unimportant stream, but a few miles in length. North Bend, Marsh- 

 field, and Empire are the principal towns on the bay. A branch 

 railroad is being built to these points from the main line of the South- 

 ern Pacific Railway, and as soon as this is completed the fishing 

 industry will receive a great impetus. Heretofore this region has 

 depended upon steamers and sailing vessels plying to Portland and 

 San Francisco for its communication with the outside world, and this 

 slow and infrequent means of shipment has very seriously handicapped 

 the fisheries. 



