234 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
one of his companions in hiding is quickly in the boat and going for 
the game. While some of the men are thus engaged, others may be 
miles away sailing along the coast with a sharp lookout for otters. 
The number of otters killed is small, but they are of large size and 
have very fine fur, the pelts bringing from $150 to $200 each, and in 
some cases much more. During 1891, 20 otters were secured, and in 
one week in September, 1892, when the writer visited one of these 
unique tree-top stations, 8 otters were killed, the total catch for the 
year being 13, valued at $133 each. In 1893 the number taken was 17, 
haying an average value of $157. 
COOS COUNTY. 
When contrasted with the last investigation, the fisheries of this 
county present few new features. Coquille River and Coos River and 
Bay are the fishing-grounds. The only catch of the rivers is salmon. 
A little.more attention is given to the bay fisheries near Bandon and 
Empire City, where some halibut, perch, and cultus-cod are taken; 
these fish, with flounders and other varieties of salt-water fish, are 
found abundantly, but the demand is limited to local use and only 
small quantities are taken. 
Coquille River.——Owing to a number of causes the fisheries of the 
Coquille have not been up to the average during the past few years. 
Only one cannery was packing during 1889, 1891, and 1892, and none 
during 1890. The run of fish was good in 1889, and the single cannery 
in operation packed 9,115 cases, of which one-sixth were chinook and 
five-sixths silver salmon; 50 barrels were also salted. The fishermen 
received 50 cents each for chinook and 50 cents each for silver salmon. 
Prices of canned salmon were low during the fall and winter, and gave 
little encouragement to canners; in consequence, during 1890, for the 
first season in a number of years, no salmon were canned on the river. 
A light catch was made and 200 barrels were salted. In 1891 the one 
cannery once more packed, but the run was light and only 2,684 cases 
were canned and 150 barrels salted, the fishermen receiving 25 cents 
each for chinook and 15 cents for silver salmon. In 1892 salmon were 
very abundant, more so than for a number of years. The run of the 
previous year having been so light, a large run was not expected and 
preparations had only been made for a small pack. The result of the 
year’s work was 4,500 cases. On account of a scarcity of cans the sur- 
plus catch was salted, and 650 barrels were thus prepared. The fisher- 
men received 35 cents each for chinook and 20 cents for silver salmon, 
the catch consisting of one-eighth chinook and seven-eighths silver 
salmon. <A few fishermen of Bandon, near the mouth of the river, fished 
outside with hook and line, their catch in 1892 being 10,250 pounds of 
halibut, 9,112 pounds of cultus-cod, and 36,010 pounds of rockfish. 
Coos River and Bay.—The one salmon cannery at Empire City being 
idle in 1890, 1891, and 1892, the fisheries were not given so much 
attention aS in past years.. The salmon catch had to be salted, and 
