144 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
of other regular employment, men of small means have turned to the 
fisheries and thus have not only found work, but have assisted in fur- | 
nishing the masses with cheap and wholesome food at a time when this 
was specially needed. This was the case at a number of places in the | 
Pacific States during the later years covered by this report. 
The previous report on the fisheries of this region contained a number 
of suggestions for the improvement of the fisheries. Among these were 
the much-needed use of ice, the adoption of cold storage, and the better 
care of fish by fishermen and dealers. In most cases the desired reforms 
were as conspicuous for their absence in 1892 as in 1889. Fresh fish 
continue to be sent to the city markets as they come from the water, 
seldom being eviscerated; and only a small amount of ice, if any, is 
used on them during transportation. When the market fishermen adopt 
the custom, which is almost universal in the East, of dressing and icing | 
their catch before shipment, an increased demand and better prices may 
be expected, to say nothing of the advantage which will come to the 
consumer through having more wholesome food. 
As during the previous investigations, the inquiries of the Commis- | 
sion were much facilitated by the courtesy of railroad, steamboat, and 
express companies in permitting access to their records. The fishing 
and canning firms of the coast took great interest in the agent’s inqui- 
ries, and often extended much assistance, in addition to allowing the 
examination of records. The thanks of the Commission are due to 
CONDENSED STATISTICS OF THE INDUSTRY. 
the fishing interests of the west coast and also to the members of the. 
State fish commissions for courtesies extended. 
The field work on the Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Eel rivers and 
Monterey and San Francisco bays was ably assisted by Mr. A. B. 
Alexander, of the United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross. 
The extent of the fisheries of the Pacific Coast in 1892 is shown in the ' 
following tables, the figures for California, Oregon, Washington, and 
Alaska being separately given. 
In the matter of persons engaged in the industry, California leads in 
the item of vessel fishermen, Washington in shore or boat fishermen, 
and Oregon in shore employees, such as factory hands, although Alaska 
leads in the number of shoresmen when all its canneries are in operation. 
The aggregate investment in the fisheries of Alaska is greater than 
elsewhere, owing to the relatively expensive canneries there located 
and the large amountof working capital required to operate them. Cali- 
fornia takes first rank in the number, value, and tonnage of vessels | 
employed, and also in the number of seines and gill nets used, but the — 
seines in Washington and the gill nets in Oregon have a greater value. — 
Oregon follows California in the amount of the general investment, and 
has important pound-net and wheel interests which are lacking else- 
where except in Washington. 
