PACIFIC COA.ST FISHERIES. 



237 



Yaquina Elver. — Since the closing of the small canneries located on 

 this stream in 1889 the fishing business has greatly decreased. A few 

 barrels of salmon are annually packed for their own use by the ranchers 

 living near by, and about 100,000 pounds are shipped fresh to Port- 

 land, Salem, and Albany. In the fall of 1892 one man from Oak- 

 land, Cal., was engaged in salting salmon. At the time the river was 

 visited by the writer a few hundred barrels bad been salted. The fish 

 are mostly silver salmon, averaging 12 pounds each. The fishermen 

 receive only 8 cents apiece for them. 



The shii^ments of fresh salmon from the Yaquina River to Portland 

 and other places in Oregon are quite large, and during the years 1889- 

 1892 were as follows : 



Tears. 



1889 

 1890 

 1891 

 1892 



Potmds. 



208, 137 

 118,060 

 102,742 

 125, 000 



Value. 



$4, 163 

 2, 361 

 2,055 

 2,500 



The Yaquina is noticeable as being the only river on the Pacific Coast 

 in which any considerable quantities of oysters are found. The oysters 

 are natives, having the small size and peculiar flavor of those taken in 

 Willapa Bay and Puget Sound. The quantity of oysters marketed, 

 prices received, and persons employed in the business, etc., show few 

 changes since the last inquiry, although the oystermen report that at 

 present they can not tong and cull more than 2 or 3 bushels a day as 

 against 5 or 6 bushels in past years. By State law the native oyster 

 beds are apportioned out to citizens desiring to work them. No one is 

 permitted to have over 2 acres. The aggregate acreage is small and 

 the available land is all taken up. Oysters are tonged in water 12 to 

 15 feet deep at low tide. The tongs have handles 15 to 18 feet long, 

 some being 26 feet long. 



The i)rice commanded by the oysters remains about the same from 

 year to year, $2.50 a sack when shipped away, or $3 a sack for local use 

 being the ruling jirices. A sack weighs 105 pounds, and is known as 2 

 bushels, but is somewhat short of that amount. 



The oyster output of the Yaquina River from 1889 to 1892, inclusive, 

 was as follows : 



Crabs enter the river in considerable quantities. They are picked 

 from the salmon nets and are gathered by the oystermen. The catch, 

 which is small, is mostly shipped to Albany, Salem, and Portland. 



