iii. 
PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 255 
WASHINGTON, 
GENERAL IMPORTANCE OF THE FISHERIES. 
The fisheries of this State are more valuable than those of Oregon, 
owing to a greater development of the oyster industry, the pelagic fur- 
‘seal fishery, and the general fisheries for salt-water fish, although the 
extent of the salmon fishery is considerably less than in Oregon. 
The fishing industry of the State has witnessed a gratifying increase 
yearly. In the face of the depressed condition of trade during part of 
the time covered by this report the fisheries underwent a noteworthy 
development, and the continued increase in the State’s population will 
no doubt lead to a still more important fishing business. 
As at present prosecuted the fisheries of Washington of special prom- 
inence are the salmon and sturgeon fisheries of the Columbia River, 
Grays Harbor, and Whatcom County, the oyster industry of Willapa 
Bay, the general food-fish and fur-seal fisheries of Puget Sound and 
Strait of Fuca, and the cod fishery of Skagit County. 
The fishing industry of Washington in 1892 gave employment to 4,310 
persons; the capital invested was $1,593,567; the value of the products 
was $931,568. Statistics showing the aggregate of the business in 1892 
and in the three preceding years are given in the following tables: 
Persons employed in the fisheries of Washington. 
| 
How engaged. 1889. | 1890. | 1891. | 1892. 
ROS hin VOSS Sse nc o 2c accmesiecen-\-sneuleanmacisinis sie =mcr~ nem ence 103 95 | 217 331 
On tr: ansporting NOR AG IN coe cae alee stain = ala ee wale eas nite = alm olt tet ciaeleiats mir 28 27 | 40 45 
PAA ECHANORIGH Ss see ata ot tae > soon ie Secivess bees aclacinnsmasimenon els 2,528 | 2,479 2, 818 3, 082 
SEES HOLE) 1 CATINICTIOS) GUC ve neidteviacccaw « cl-.cies<'e sivinis'eevin.e)nla(snieinsin'=im= 704 652 | 778 
BRU Cy Rat eet te a ree Se emis a aateialg a) altiaiara taints 4 s(e1O alalara inisin se biuiaiv’e/aia 3,863) | 3,200 | of 853 4,310 
Vessels, boats, apparatus, shore property, and cash capital of the fisheries of Washington. 
1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 
Items. 7 Sas = 
No. Value. No. | Value. No. Value. No. | Value. 
Vessels fishing .........-.--- 8 | $30, 850 9 | $24, 550 19 | $45, 850 33 | $85, 730 
PIOOMBMG. sah c% cane < nin = LOW ROM | cetsieaiaieemte pay aha oresesere Gah B el A Bee oer HEC OW il aes asa 
OT ee ae oe LO ZAG | sero cae AGE A eres NRE a ee eins 27, 880 
Vessels transporting ..-.-.-.- 2 16, 050 12 11, 900 15 31, 300 18 28, 900 
DORE CG Se ee eee LOO SS) eeeueer: aK jaa Uh ee eee 16GB D0) oon eemn=s- gy Rd ae 
UGE Se ase aaeeeneel Dapecos (ALU ERE Se bee | Us| aeese se few (I) ree See 5, 750 
pce SS cE nnn ee ee 1,277 | 108,414} 1,260 | 106,175 | 1,474) 123,510 1, 690 132, 330 
Guns and Fyife tS ose Coane eee fe MOO! |emren ie DN AOOR (oceans BEIGE Wen 2 toes 4,517 
Apparatus—shorefisheries : 
(SEL SGC ee a 638 98, 987 743 97, 830 871 | 112, 137 885 | 112,550 
Pound and trap nets...-.-. 137 92, 300 74 58, 200 118 117, 200 157 124, 700 
USEC Ae ghee 120 38, 950 126 36, 750 151 45, 775 162 46, 650 
LOUD GCM Ae epee Bn ACB aoe stad [Scr 6 COC S| MECRSe SS Fee Cnr Isr 20 1, 000 10 500 
MONOMNGUS 2222-1. os <n me 15 75 18 90 23 115 20 100 
WHOIS ost cree na nie anie oe ; 9 26, 000 12 48, 500 14 45, 000 17 49, 000 
HON Ae eee eer BrOeU! \wokwe aa. OOO ene a tae eee 4, 065 
Tongs, rakes, and hoes..-...|------- Ch oP i ES eer 3) 402i oe ccraia.s AS TOG) SS eemeons 3, 505 
Guns, spears, harpoons, etc.|------- 2.060) (eee ee. 1: 080: jzeo- ae. 1 (Gh Ds a ee 1, 700 
BINEE HEQDELCY ooo ic iscnqo sone leecw ase Oth SOU. base! aeaiese 808;,280) |e oo sm a5 442 5503). idence no! 417, 800 
BEAR IIGHDICON wowee gs ncrse deen s|qc-56< lp AGI; 000) |2--0- 55 405, 000 |.....-- 495;000)|/.2.e+ 2... 546, 000 
Ritalin aston a Shh eRe feb vO7ss| eens cece (1, 1, 117, 687 or ae okey ph 486, 563 |........- 1, 593, 567 
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