PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 253 
Tio keep up the catch. Advices received from this river in 1893 reported 
a great scarcity of sturgeon, which was followed in 1894 by a still more 
marked decrease in the abundance of the fish, so that the persons inter- 
ested were obliged to discontinue the business, and some moved their 
plants to Grays Harbor, Wash., and Fraser River, British Columbia. 
The absence of any protective laws or a close season during the spawn- 
ing period, together with the avidity with which the fishing was prose- 
cuted, have doubtless led to this destruction of a once valuable fishery. 
The failure of the States to take proper action for the preservation of 
the sturgeon has no doubt been due to the recent date at which the 
fishery was established and to the absence of accurate knowledge as to 
its destructive tendency. The extreme brevity of the existence of © 
this fishery is very suggestive, although in keeping with other rivers of 
the Eastern States in which the sturgeon fishery has been entirely 
abandoned. 
The extent of the sturgeon fishery of the Columbia River during the 
four years, 1889 to 1892, is shown in the following tables, relating to 
persons employed, apparatus, boats, etc., used, and quantity and value 
of products. 
Persons employed in the sturgeon fishery of the Columbia River. 
Wee 
Fisher- |Shoreem- Total. 
Beams: | men. ployees. | 
| ash itis leatinertsis 11 a0 6 acta a ane ane A MOR, 135 20; 155 
BR a he 2 he seek. rhs egal. reins cpidal<sepasstiaence 183 29| 212 
IEEE RSE 8 8 Ne et ea ey a 202 35 | 987 
Rune MONEE: Fetes. oA JO ah Ec bid oeiee ene). sed Jdad 5 287 53 340 
Bogts, apparatus, and other property employed in the sturgeon fishery of the Columbia 
River. 
- 
1889. 1890. 1891. 1892, 
Items. SSS 
No. | Value. | No. | Value. | No. | Value. No. | Value. 
eos | | i | 
LONER CSA SaA See 90 $2, 250 122 $3, 050 135 | $3,375 200 | $8, 690 
Sea ON ress ot eno Said ew ole w 2 630 6, 300 854 8, 540 945 9, 450 | 1, 322 | 13. 220 
SRPMS UNC teeta. 5 Sicwsen = oslo cute erianere sre 15 1, 500 15 1, 500 15 1, 500 15 1, 500 
SONG R26 Ae SS Se Pe a DY 5.200) Voces am 23,500 |.-...- 247500) aoc 27, 008 
SMMC CRTIURL se on cle neels Saisie oc hoc|aensin'e Si900 oc. T4000 aac 2A O00)\zaeee as 40, 000 
Ota eee eae cee cies ce macce ee Ae boe S810! eee. 2 505590" [>< 252% HO G25 fee See we 90, 410 
Products of the sturgeon fishery of the Columbia River. 
| 1889, 1890. 1891. 1892. 
Products. 
| Pounds. Value. | Pounds. | Value. | Pounds. | Value. | Pounds. | Value. 
921, 945 | $10, 094 | 1, 627, 434 | $17,275 | 1, 868,902 | $20,447 | 2,915, 428 | $30, 904 
47, 2 
21, 275 851 36, 650 1, 346 47, 680 1, 907 60 1, 890 
15,600 1, 395 33, 300 2, 331 39, 400 1, 970 56, 020 2, 241 
1,195 2, 902 2, 325 3, 487 3,117 4, 676 4, 405 6, 758 
960,705 | 15, 242 | 1,696,709 | 24,439 | 1,959,099 | 29,000 | 3,006,757 | 41, 743 
