PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 



255 



WASHINGTON. 

 aENERAL IMPORTANCE OF THE FISHERIES. 



The fisheries of this State are more valuable than those of Oregon, 

 owing- to a greater development of the oyster industry, the i)elagic fur- 

 seal fishery, and the general fisheries for salt-water fish, although the 

 extent of the salmon fishery is considerably less than in Oregon. 



The fishing industry of the State has witnessed a gratifying increase 

 yearly. In the face of the depressed condition of trade during part of 

 the time covered by this report the fisheries underwent a noteworthy 

 development, and the continued increase in the State's population will 

 no doubt lead to a still more important fishing business. 



As at present iDrosecuted the fisheries of Washington of special prom- 

 inence are the salmon and sturgeon fisheries of the Columbia River, 

 Grays Harbor, and Whatcom County, the oyster industry of Willaj^a 

 Bay, the general food-fish and fur-seal fisheries of Puget Sound and 

 Strait of Fuca, and the cod fishery of Skagit County. 



The fisliing industry of Washington in 1892 gave employment to 4,310 

 persons; the capital invested was $1,593,567 ; the value of the products 

 was $931,568. Statistics showing the aggregate of the business in 1892 

 and in the three preceding years are given in the following tables: 



Persons employed in the fisheries of Washington. 



Vessels, boats, apparatus, shore property, and cash capital of the fisheries of Washington. 



Items. 



Ves.sels fishing 



Tonuage 



Outat 



Vessels transporting 



Tonnage 



Outfit 



Boats 



Apparatus— vessel fisheries : 



Seiues , 



Gill nets 



Lines 



Guns and spears 



Apparatus — shorefisheries : 



Gill nets 



Pound and trap nets 



Seines 



lipef nets 



Elinor nets 



Wheels 



Lilies 



Tongs, rakes, and hoes 



Guns, spears, harpoons, etc 



Sli(ir<;i)roperty 



Cash capital 



Total 



No. 



Value. 



12 

 109. 38 



1,277 

 1 



638 

 137 

 120 



$30, 850 



10, 245 

 16, 050 



7,820 

 108, 414 



700 

 1,400 



98, 987 

 92, 300 

 38, 950 



75 



26, 000 



3,320 



392 



1,050 



363,450 



461, 000 



No. 



Value. 



12 

 107. 18 



1,280 

 1 



743 



74 



126 



$24, 550 



8,775 

 11, 900 



1,500 

 106, 175 



490 

 1,400 



97, 830 

 58, 200 

 36, 750 



90 



48, 50O 



3,630 



3, 492 



1,050 



308, 280 



405, OUO 



1,261,078 1 11,117,687 



1 I i 



No. 



19 

 588. 83 



15 

 166. 11 



1,474 

 3 



871 

 118 

 151 

 20 

 23 

 14 



Value. 



$45, 850 



10, 305 

 31,300 



3,700 

 123,510 



955 

 3,153 



112, 137 



117, 200 



45, 775 



1,000 



115 



45, 009 



3,071 



4.195 



1,222 



442, 550 



495, 000 



1892. 



No. 



33 

 1, 009. 17 



18 

 175. 95 



1,690 



1 

 1 



885 



157 



162 



10 



20 



17 



Value. 



$85, 730 



27, 880 

 28, 900 



5,750 

 132, 330 



75 



50 



• 1,765 



4,517 



112, 550 



124, 700 



46, 650 



500 



100 



49, 000 



4,065 



3,505 



1,700 



417, 800 



546, 000 



1,486,563 1,593,567 



