PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 295 



caught by pound uets. wliile all species are taken in small quantities 

 in reef uets. The average gross weights of the different species of 

 salmon taken at Point Eoberts in 1892 were as follows: Blueback 

 salmon, 7 pounds; silver salmon, 7i pounds; dog salmon, 10^ pounds. 

 The prices paid to the fishermen for these fish were 15 cents, 8 cents, 

 and 6 cents, respectively. 



The total quantity of salmon taken in 1891 was 625,885 pounds, and 

 in 1892 1,043,500 pounds, all of which were caught and used in canning 

 at Point Eoberts. 



SAN JUAN COUNTY. 



This county consists of numerous islands lying midway between the 

 island of Vancouver on the west and Skagit County on the east, in 

 the direct line of migration of the large bodies of salmon on their way 

 from the ocean to the Fraser Eiver and other streams of the northwest 

 coast. While the opportunities for commercial fishing for salmon and 

 other fishes are regarded as extremely good, the fishing industry is 

 insignificant. On Waldron Island some attention was given to the 

 taking and smoking of herring during the years 1891 and 1892, several 

 hundred thousand pounds of raw material being utilized annually. 

 After being smoked the fish are packed in small boxes holding 5 or 6 

 pounds, and find a ready market in the cities of the Pacific Coast. 



THE OYSTER BUSINESS OF PUGET SOUND. 



Native oyster beds are abundant in Mason and Thurston counties, 

 the beds in Mason County being in Oakland Bay, Case Inlet, Totten 

 Inlet or Oyster Bay, and Hood Canal, and those of Thurston County 

 in Mud Bay near Olympia; all of these bodies of water are tributary 

 to Puget Sound. During the past few years more attention has been 

 given to the native beds of this region. The small seed oysters obtained 

 from the cull have been i)]anted, and starfish found on the beds have 

 been destroyed. In all cases in which some care has been bestowed on 

 the beds a gain iu the output has resulted, while localities where the 

 beds have received no attention have generally shown a decrease, some 

 beds worked as late as 1889 now being abandoned. In past years 

 starfish have been very destructive to the native beds of Puget Sound ; 

 of late the efforts to rid the beds of this injurious animal have been 

 increased, and depredations have been almost entirely prevented. The 

 beds are exposed at low tide, at which time the starfish are gathered 

 by hand and with forks, and used on the land for fertilizer. 



In taking oysters in the Puget Sound region tongs are but little 

 used — iu some instances not at all, the oysters being picked by hand at 

 low tide, and carried to floats, where they are culled, small seed oysters 

 and shells being returned to the beds. 



Market oysters are sent to Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and other 

 points, in sacks containing 115 pounds, equivalent to 2 bushels. Prices 

 in 1889 were $3 per sack, and in 1891 and 1892 $2.50 per sack. The 

 oyster season is from September 1 to May 1. Two sacks per day are 

 considered a fair quantity to be taken by one man. 



