PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 243 



Seines are used at Sand Island, near the mouth of tlie river, and on 

 the sand bars to a distance of 15 to 30 miles above the ocean. These 

 bars as a rule are dry at low tide, at which time the seines are hauled. 

 Up to a comparatively recent time the bars in the Columbia Kiver were 

 owned by the State and their fishing privileges were free. As they 

 became valuable for seine fishing, and had no other use, i)rivate parties 

 had them surveyed and bought them from the State at a low price. A 

 title deed having been secured, the value of these bars at once increased 

 from a few dollars to many thousands. The desirable seining-grounds 

 are limited and have fallen into the hands of a few persons, which fact 

 accounts for the relatively small number of seines used, and this form 

 of apparatus is the only one which does not show an increase in recent 

 years. 



Fish-wheels are the most interesting form of apparatus used in the 

 Columbia River. Their origin is comparatively recent, and the con- 

 struction and method of operation are entirely different from any other 

 appliances used for the capture of fish. Owing to their supposed very 

 destructive powers tbey have been the subject of much antagonism on 

 the part of the general public and the fishermen using other forms of 

 apparatus. Since tbe first introduction of fish- wheels their number and 

 use have steadily grown, and in 1892 more were employed than at any 

 previous time. As compared with the number of gill nets and pound 

 nets used the number of wheels is very small and has probably nearly 

 reached its limit, as their use is confined to a few desirable places bor- 

 dering the rapids of the Columbia Eiver at the Cascades and The Dalles, 

 and the favorable .sites have passed into the hands of a few persons. 



Pound nets are extensively employed in the lower Columbia, the 

 largest number being set in Baker Bay near the mouth of the river. 

 The nets are usually owned by the canners. Between 1889 and 1892 

 the increase in the number of these nets on the Columbia was 133 per 

 cent. The ])ound net has almost completely superseded the old wooden 

 trap that dates back to the early days of the salmon business, and has 

 now almost passed out of existence. 



The other minor forms of apparatus employed on the river, namely, 

 dip nets, squaw nets, etc., which are mostly used by Indians, present 

 no marked changes in numbers or in methods of use. The Indians 

 continue to take large quantities of fish in this way for their own use 

 and for sale. 



Complete tables are elsewhere given showing the number and value 

 of each different kind of apparatus employed in each county on this 

 river and also showing the quantity and value of each kind of fish 

 taken therein. Some general tables follow showing for the Columbia 

 basin as a whole the quantities of apparatus used and the catch in 

 each. The following table has been i^repared to show the increase in 

 the number of pound nets, haul seines, fish- wheels, and gill nets owned 

 or used on the Washington and Oregon sides of the river respectively 

 in 1889 tp 1892; inclusive. — — ■ 



