1 -THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



Within the past five years the fisheries of the west coast of the 

 United States have attracted more attention from the general i)ublic 

 than those of any other region, and some of the qnestions Avhich 

 have arisen in connection therewith have been of great national and 

 international importance. The principal branches which have been 

 considered are the salmon industry and the fur-seal fishery. The vast 

 interests depending on the preservation of the salmon supply have 

 drawn to that subject the attention of Congress, as well as of the State 

 legislatures; and the necessity for the protection of the fur seal on the 

 high seas and at the rookeries has resulted in Congressional action and 

 I)rotracted diplomatic negotiations. 



When, in 1889, the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries 

 completed a canvass of the fishing industry of the I^acific States, it 

 acquired a full knowledge of the extent and importance of these fish- 

 eries for the first time in about ten years — that is, since the investiga- 

 tions for the Tenth Census. It was found that the advance in the 

 industry since that time had been phenomenal in almost every branch, 

 while a number of new features had in the meantime developed. The 

 canvass of the fisheries of this extensive coast section was intrusted 

 to Mr. W. A. AYilcox, who entered into the work with great zeal and 

 brought a deep ijractical knowledge of the commercial fisheries to bear 

 on the inquiry. The report based on Mr. Wilcox's investigations was 

 printed as an appendix to the Report of the Commissioner of Fish and 

 Fisheries for 1888. The paper was extensively distributed among the 

 fishing interests of the west coast and was received with marked favor. 

 Taking into consideration the rapid growth of this industry between 

 1879 and 1889, another investigation appeared opportune in 1892. Mr. 

 Wilcox was again detailed for the work and has performed it in a manner 

 satisfactory to the Commission and creditable to himself. The follow- 

 ing report, prepared by him, represents the results of his inquiries. 



The previous inquiry conducted by Mr. Wilcox covered all features 

 of the industry, including full descriptions of methods, apparatus, 

 fishing-grounds, etc., as well as comprehensive statistics. In the recent 

 investigation special attention was devoted to the collection of detailed 

 statistical data, and only such descriptive matter was obtained as was 

 necessary to elucidate the statistics or record changes in the methods 

 or conditions since the last canvass. Statistics for the years 1889 to 

 1892, inclusive, covering all phases of the fisheries and related shore 



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