7 PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 295 
caught by pound nets, while all species are taken in small quantities 
in reef nets. The average gross weights of the different species of 
salmon taken at Point Roberts in 1892 were as follows: Blueback 
salmon, 7 pounds; silver salmon, 74 pounds; dog salmon, 104 pounds. 
The prices paid to the fishermen for these fish were 15 cents, 8 cents, 
and 6 cents, respectively. 
The total quantity of salmon taken in 1891 was 625,885 pounds, and 
in 1892 1,043,500 pounds, all of which were caught and used in canning 
at Point Roberts. ut 
SAN JUAN COUNTY. 
This county consists of numerous islands lying midway between the 
island of Vancouver on the west and Skagit County on the east, in 
the direct line of migration of the large bodies of salmon on their way 
from the ocean to the Fraser River and other streams of the northwest 
coast. While the opportunities for commercial fishing for salmon and 
other fishes are regarded as extremely good, the fishing industry is 
insignificant. On Waldron Island some attention was given to the 
taking and smoking of herring during the years 1891 and 1892, several 
hundred thousand pounds of raw material being utilized annually. 
After being smoked the fish are packed in small boxes holding 5 or 6 
pounds, and find a ready market in the cities of the Pacific Coast. 
THE OYSTER BUSINESS OF PUGET SOUND. 
Native oyster beds are abundant in Mason and Thurston counties, 
the beds in Mason County being in Oakland Bay, Case Inlet, Totten 
Inlet or Oyster Bay, and Hood Canal, and those of Thurston County 
in Mud Bay near Olympia; all of these bodies of water are tributary 
to Puget Sound. During the past few years more attention has been 
given to the native beds of this region. The small seed oysters obtained 
from the cull have been planted, and starfish found on the beds have 
been destroyed. In all cases in which some care has been bestowed on 
the beds a gain in the output has resulted, while localities where the 
_ beds have received no attention have generally shown a decrease, some 
beds worked as late as 1889 now being abandoned. In past years 
starfish have been very destructive to the native beds of Puget Sound; 
of late the efforts to rid the beds of this injurious animal have been 
increased, and depredations have been almost entirely prevented. The 
beds are exposed at low tide, at which time the starfish are gathered 
by hand and with forks, and used on the land for fertilizer. 
In taking oysters in the Puget Sound region tongs are ,but little 
used—in some instances not at all, the oysters being picked by hand at 
low tide, and carried to floats, where they are culled, small seed oysters 
and shells being returned to the beds. 
Market oysters are sent to Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and other 
points, in sacks containing 115 pounds, equivalent to 2 bushels. Prices 
in 1889 were $3 per sack, and in 1891 and 1892 $2.50 per sack. The 
oyster season is from September 1 to May 1. Two sacks per day are 
considered a fair quantity to be jaken by one man, 
