' , PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 287 
, having an average weight of 12 pounds. There was also a small run 
of dog salmon in the river after November 1. Steelheads are found 
‘from November to the following March, but the closing of the canneries 
_before the run begins had, prior to building the railroad, prevented 
their utilization. The prices received by the salmon fishermen in 1892 
/were 30 cents each for chinooks, 15 cents each for silver salmon, and 
'5 cents each for dog salmon. In 1892 there were 102 fishermen em- 
ployed in the salmon fishery of the Chehalis River, 34 of whom came 
from the Columbia River after the close of the season on that stream. 
Of the capital employed, amounting to $52,285, $7,300 represented nets, 
boats, etc., brought from the Columbia. Fifty-eight Chinamen were 
‘employed as cannery hands. The aggregate catch of salmon on the 
Chehalis in 1892 was 1,472,215 pounds, with a value to the fishermen 
of $22,050. This quantity included salmon canned, used locally, and 
Ripped fresh by express. During the years 1889 and 1892, when 
‘salmon canning was done on this river, the following quantities of the 
‘different kinds of salmon were packed: 
( 
Species. 1889. 1892. 
( —- 
Cases. Cases. 
Thinooks 3 ESBS AGS 2 PET IEC BARE Se etn Re Ds tee 13, 240 | 4, 500 
Mert te meet Ce tas whe oe where sam sala Gee clots Lew chlehis ov ote cee she coma cmiaclatia doe celes 18, 310 7, 700 
oe on ie ono onic eee a ere Se winnie oie Gti pgne «cone Sens ae, chooes sewanies samen secee Sepa cee eee | 4, 600 
Ti eee Ne TRS SiO ieee ean Oe ee Ss ead "81,550 | 16, 800 
Sturgeon have always been more or less abundant in the Chehalis 
|River, but up toa recent date no value was attached to them, and 
‘those found in the pound nets were knocked in the head and thrown 
away. Direct rail communication soon brought buyers from Puget 
‘Sound, and no more sturgeon were discarded. In 1892 38,000 pounds of 
‘sturgeon incidentally taken in the pound nets were disposed of; the price 
received by the fishermen being one-half cent a pound gross weight. 
A few fine shad are taken in the pound nets of Chehalis River, but 
no special fishing for shad is done at any time. No nets of any kind 
are used until the fall run of salmon begins, by which time the run of 
‘shad is probably nearly over. The few shad taken are eaten by the 
‘fishermen. Salmon trout are found plentifully in the Chehalis River, 
‘but are fished for only by sportsmen. 
JEFFERSON COUNTY. 
Phe fishing business of this county centers at Port Townsend. The 
‘many advantages which this point possesses for the carrying on of an 
extensive fishing industry have often been mentioned. The city has 
one of the best harbors on the Pacific coast. Many varieties of desir- 
able food-fish are to be found almost at the city’s docks. The halibut, 
cod, and other fish, which are found in abundance just within and out- 
‘side the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, are much nearer to Port Townsend 
than to any other city or important shipping point. The fisheries have 
not reached that stage of development which was anticipated a few 
. 
<7 
ee 
