64 FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
1915 asmall plant at Port Stanley was engaged in making potash and 
fertilizer from kelp. The total fishery output of this county in 1915 
amounted to 3,025,282 pounds, valued at $40,043, as compared with 
3,180,326 pounds, valued at $103,899, in 1904. This shows a decrease 
of 155,044 pounds, and a proportionately greater decrease of $63,856 
in value, which occurred mainly in bluebacks and chinooks. 
Mason County.—This county ranks third in the State in the value 
of its oyster fisheries, being exceeded only by Pacific and Thurston 
Counties. In 1915 the total catch of oysters amounted to 7,512 
bushels, valued at $26,815. Of these, 5,522 bushels, valued at 
$22,035, were native oysters; 750 bushels, valued at $2,250, were 
eastern oysters; and 1,240 bushels, with an estimated value of $2,530, 
were seed oysters. It is contrary to law to sell seed oysters, and they 
are taken up and used solely by oyster planters on their private beds. 
The clam industry is also of considerable importance, 8,000 bushels, 
with a value of $4,111, being marketed in 1915. Shelton is the center 
of the county’s fishery industries. The total output of Mason County 
in 1915 amounted to 293,304 pounds, with a value to the fishermen of 
$36,104, showing a decline since 1904 of 1,875,420 pounds and of 
$34,017, accounted for mainly through the decline of the native 
oyster industry, which was affected by a freeze occurring during the 
1915 season. The catch of salmon was also smaller in 1915 than in 
1904. 
Island County.—The fisheries of this county are not important as 
compared with those counties already mentioned, the total production 
in 1915 amounting to 1,856,919 pounds, valued at $19,611, as com- 
pared with 5,489,089 pounds, valued at $125,486, in 1904. The 
decline is mostly in the salmon fisheries. As in San Juan County, the 
population includes more farmers than fishermen. In 1915 there was 
a fleet of only three fishing vessels, notwithstanding its proximity to 
the prolific salmon-fishing grounds of Puget Sound. Besides salmon, 
the important fisheries are the crab, smelt, and grayfish. The catch 
of grayfish was more than one-half of the total catch of the county, 
but the value was less than one-seventh. During that year they 
were used entirely for fertilizer and oil. There are no canneries and 
no fishing centers of importance in the county. 
Jefferson County.—Out of a total output of 3,919,316 pounds, valued 
at $74,197, 2,572,837 pounds, valued at $53,785, are credited to the 
pound-net fishery operated from Port Townsend. Two large salmon 
canneries are located at Port Townsend, and also a plant utilizing 
large quantities of grayfish in the preparation of fertilizer, poultry 
food, and oil. Hard clams and eastern oysters from private beds 
are among the products of this county. The returns for 1915 show 
an increased production over 1904 of 2,148,100 pounds and of 
$43,425. | 
Cowlitz County.—This county depends for its fish supply upon the 
Columbia River, which forms part of its western and southern 
boundaries; but the Cowlitz River, one of its tributaries, peice 3 
through the county from north to south, also furnishes considerable 
quantities. In 1915, 1,609,500 pounds of eulachon, or candlefish 
tabulated as smelt, valued at $6,500, were taken from one of the small 
tributaries of the Cowlitz River. These fish are taken in the vicinity 
of Kelso during January, February, and March. Such large quan- 
tities are secured within so short a period of time that it is cult 
