REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 153 



The classification of the whaling - Heel by fishing- grounds ;in<l the 

 number of whales of each species taken on the different grounds are 



given in the following table. The importance of the Korth Pacific and 

 Arctic oceans will be readily seen from the figures presented. More 

 than nine-tenths (293) of the whales captured were taken on those 

 grounds, and of these fully 280 were obtained in the Arctic Ocean. 



Tabic showing by fishing-grounds the number of ivlialex taken by the vessels rendezvousing 



at San Francisco in 1S93. 



a Includes one vessel burned on the way to the fishing-grounds and one vessel engaged in trading 

 for bone and ivory. 



The season in the Arctic was remarkably successful. One vessel 

 took 48 bowhead whales; these yielded 72,000 pounds of bone, valued 

 at 8180,000. Five other vessels secured, respectively, 45, 38, 30, 26, and 

 20 whales and stocked over $100,000 each ($103,750 to .$104,298). 



The practice of remaining in the Arctic during the winter in order 

 to be early on the grounds is becoming more prevalent, and 7 steamers 

 and 3 sailing vessels wintered near the mouth of the Mackenzie River 

 in 1893. 



In May, 1894, the writer made a brief visit to the Pacific Coast for 

 the purpose of studying the apparatus and methods of the fisheries. 

 He was instructed by the Commissioner to make observations on the 

 condition of the salmon industry, the sturgeon fishery, and other prom- 

 inent branches, and to give special attention to those fishes which 

 have been artificially introduced into the waters of the Pacific States, 

 namely, the shad, the striped bass, the catfish, and the carp. 



The inquiry began in San Francisco, Cal., May 24 and was terminated 

 at Portland, Oreg., June 25. The short time available restricted the 

 inquiry to the fisheries of greatest extent and interest and to the 

 localities affording the best opportunities to see the greatest variety of 

 fishery products and methods. The results of the inquiry will be incor- 

 porated in a special report and need only be outlined at this time. 



The time spent in San Francisco and vicinity was chiefly devoted to 

 the consideration of the market fishery for salt-water products; to the 

 salmon, shad, striped bass, sturgeon, and other fisheries in the lower 



