FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 97 
use of hand lines. The catch of cod has more than doubled, and the 
value nearly trebled since 1904. 
Smelt.—Smelt are taken in most of the counties bordering on Puget 
Sound, but the fishing is usually incidental to the salmon fisheries of 
this region. The fishing season is from August 1 to April 30; during 
May, June, and July the season is closed. Until recent years the fish- 
ing season extended throughout the entire year. Short seines are 
used, the length ranging from 80 to 100 yards on an average and the 
depth from 200 to 400 meshes. The bunt is 25 yards long and is of 
6 or 9 thread cotton twine with 1-inch mesh, while the wings are of 
6-thread twine with 14-inch mesh. A seine is usually fished by 
two men. 
Under smelt in this report are included eulachon, or candlefish, 
which are usually taken in the Cowlitz River near Kelso. In 1915, 
however, that river was so muddy that they continued up the 
Columbia to the Lewis River, where practically the entire catch was 
made. The Behing season is from January 1 to April 1, and they 
are taken in such large quantities that they soon glut the market. 
The price usually varies from $5 a box of 50 pounds, early in the 
season, to 10 cents a box after the season is well advanced. The 
output goes largely to Portland. Dip nets are the only form of 
apparatus used in the fishery. Since 1904 there has been an increase 
in the catch of 788,049 pounds, but there has been a decrease of 
$1,570 in value. 
Grayfish.—This species in 1915 was used exclusively in the manu- 
facture of fertilizer and oil. The total output used for this purpose 
amounted to 7,093,996 pounds, valued at.$15,959. This is a new 
industry, as no grayfish were reported in the last canvass of this 
region by the Bureau covering the year 1904. They were taken 
mainly with seines and set lines, and often by men not regularly 
engaged in fishing. 
erring.—Herring are used almost exclusively for halibut bait. 
Practically the entire catch is taken in haul seines, principally in the 
vessel fisheries. Many purse-seine fishermen also have short-haul 
seines, which they use whenever the opportunity offers for making 
a good haul of herring. Some are sold to the halibut vessels direct 
and the remainder to dealers, mainly in Seattle, who freeze them for 
use later in the season. The increase in the herring output from 
531,750 pounds, valued at $3,155 in 1904, to 2,129,149 pounds, valued 
at $9,655 in 1915, is due to the growth of the halibut fishery. 
Sturgeon.—Sturgeon are fanart in small quantities in most of the 
waters of the State but are more frequent in the Columbia River. 
Pacific County, on the latter stream, with a catch of 17,100 pounds, 
valued at $784, and 300 pounds of caviar, valued at $75, leads all 
other counties in this fishery. This species, as in eastern waters, 
shows quite a marked decline. The total catch for Washington in 
1915 amounted to 43,656 pounds, valued at $2,151, as compared 
with 125,127 pounds, valued at $4,050, in 1904. 
Rockfishes.—Puget Sound is the northern limit for the black rockfish, 
the most important catches being made by Indians fishing with hand 
lines in the vicinity of Neah Bay. Considerable quantities are also 
taken in that region by troll fishermen, and small quantities with 
set lines in various localities. Red rockfish are not taken com- 
