7 PACIFIC COAS! FISHERIES. aie 
OREGON. 
GENERAL EXTENT AND FEATURES OF THE FISHERIES. 
From the first settlement of the State the fisheries of Oregon have 
yearly been of increasing interest. The abundance of salmon first 
attracted the fishermen, and their capture has continued the leading 
branch of the business. While natural causes, often unaccountable, 
largely govern the migrations of fish and are chiefly responsible for 
the uncertain character of their movements and the fluctuations in the 
‘eateh, there is no room for doubt that the preservation of the supply 
in the rivers is largely dependent on man. During recent years a 
large increase is annually shown in the various appliances of capture in 
the salmon fisheries of the Columbia River, which yields the bulk of the 
salmon caught in the State. From an increase in fishing appliances a 
gain in the catch might be expected, but such is generally not the case. 
In the years of largest production a much less amount of fishing gear 
was used than at present. As the fish were depleted, the fishermen, 
eager to keep up the amount of their catch, increased the number of 
their gill nets, pound nets, wheels, etc., often only to find a yet smaller 
catch, which would again be followed by more fishing appliances. 
Artificial propagation, which has been carried on so far as means 
would permit, has in a measure made good the losses from increased 
fishing gear. The naturally favorable conditions of the Columbia and 
most of the other rivers of the State for abundance of destrable food- 
fish continue nearly, if not quite, as favorable as in the early days of 
‘the fisheries, when the only fish caught were those taken by the native 
Indians for their own use. The waters remain unpolluted by the sewage : 
of large cities and the refuse of manufactories, and from the topography 
of the country through which the rivers flow they may be expected to 
remain unimpaired for many years. 
The salmon fishery and the dependent canning business are vastly 
more important than all other branches of the fisheries of this State, 
the only other fishery of any prominence being that for sturgeon. 
Only very limited quantities of other food-fish are taken, and the general 
fisheries are much less developed than in California or Washington. 
Oysters and fur seals contribute to the income of the fishermen. 
The following tables show the extent of the fisheries of this State. 
In the last year covered by the statistics, 4,332 persons were engaged 
in the industry, $2,272,351 was Sane: maa 28,521,105 pounds of 
products were taken, having a value of $872,405. 
Persons employed in the fisheries of Oregon. 
| 
How engaged. | 1889. | 1890. | 1891. | 1892, 
tp | ixiietaie 
(SDE CLR TARD 228 804 2 lee ga 5 5 esl a ln Eo A ee | 11 | 25 55 | 60 
On vessels transporting ee ee eR Ce Se) crue trae oie a5 40 40 38 57 
si EEE ae Op ie I i a ae A ea a 2,234 | 2,112 | 2,452 | 2,705 
On shore, in canneries, etc.........---...--..- SE a es 1,334 | 1,282) 1,342) 1,810 
a oe i ee ee eS | 3,619 | 3,459 | 3,887 | 4,332 
