1.—THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
| Within the past five years the fisheries of the west coast of the 
United States have attracted more attention from the general public 
than those of any other region, and some of the questions which 
have arisen in connection therewith have been of great national and 
ie ational importance. The principal branches which have been 
‘considered are the salmon industry and the fur-seal fishery. The vast 
‘interests depending on the preservation of the salmon supply have 
drawn to that subject the attention of Congress, as well as of the State 
legislatures; and the necessity for the protection of the fur seal on the 
high seas and at the rookeries has resulted in Congressional action and 
‘protracted diplomatic negotiations. 
- When, in 1889, the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries 
‘completed a canvass of the fishing industry of the Pacific States, it 
‘acquired a full knowledge of the extent and importance of these fish- 
veries for the first time in about ten years—that is, since the investiga- 
tions for the Tenth Census. It was found that the advance in the 
‘industry since that time had been phenomenal in almost every branch, 
swhile a number of new features had in the meantime developed. The 
canvass of the fisheries of this extensive coast section was intrusted 
‘ito Mr. W. A. Wilcox, who entered into the work with great zeal and 
brought a deep practical knowledge of the commercial fisheries to bear 
ion the inquiry. The report based on Mr. Wilcox’s investigations was 
printed as an appendix to the Report of the Commissioner of Fish and 
Fisheries for 1888. The paper was extensively distributed among the 
‘fishing interests of the west coast and was received with marked favor. 
)Taking into consideration the rapid growth of this industry between 
1879 and 1889, another investigation appeared opportune in 1892. Mr. 
{Wilcox was again detailed for the work and has performed it in a manner 
‘satisfactory to the Commission and creditable to himself. The follow- 
‘img report, prepared by him, represents the results of his inquiries. 
The previous inquiry conducted by Mr. Wilcox covered all features 
of the industry, ineluding full descriptions of methods, apparatus, 
fishing-grounds, etc., as well as comprehensive statistics. In the recent 
investigation special attention was devoted to the collection of detailed 
statistical data, and only such descriptive matter was obtained as was 
necessary to elucidate the statistics or record changes in the methods 
or conditions since the last canvass. Statistics for the years 1889 to 
1892, inclusive, covering all phases of the fisheries and related shore 
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