52 



FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST STATES IN 1904. 



THE FISHERIES BY COUNTIES. 



Humboldt County.— The salmon catch of Eel River in 1904 amounted 

 to 2,728,406 pounds, valued at $43,330; 2,664,206 pounds of this were 

 shipped fresh, and 64,200 pounds salted, nearly all being sent to San 

 Francisco. Of the total catch 2,211,286 pounds were fresh chinook 

 salmon, of which one San Francisco firm handled 520,837 pounds, 

 reshipping the same east as mild cured, frozen, and fresh. 



The fisheries of Eel River are of special interest. For many years 

 they were of considerable importance, and the cannery located there 

 made large shipments of fresh and salted salmon. From overfishing 

 the products were reduced to a low ebb, and after the cannery closed 

 the shipments were small. The state placed a close season on the river, 

 and for a number of years gave much attention to restocking the stream. 

 The catch of 1899 compared with 1904 as here given shows the benefit 

 of artificial propagation and legal protection. 



Salmon Catch on Eel River. 



In addition to the above, there were put up and shipped 53,286 

 pounds of salted chinook salmon. The small catch of steelhead is the 

 result of a state law which restricted the fishing for this species to the 

 use of hook and- line, thus preventing professional fishermen from 

 operating nets. Of other products than salmon Humboldt County in 

 1904 yielded 914,886 pounds, valued at $20,793, this output consisting 

 of 485,760 pounds of crabs, worth $9,334; 81,250 pounds of smelts, 

 worth $2,437; $1,477 worth of clams, and $7,545 worth of other fish. 



Sacramento County. — The fisheries of this county are of importance 

 chiefly from being near the headwaters of the salmon fisheries of the 

 Sacramento River. The capital invested in the fisheries amounted to 

 $173,215. The products of 1904 amounted to 1,001,431 pounds, worth 

 $39,363. The leading products were 516,823 pounds of fresh chinook 

 salmon, 361,923 pounds of cattish, 71,442 pounds of striped bass, and 

 51,243 pounds of other fish. 



Santa Cruz County. — The fisheries of this county show quite a gain 

 in the number of persons engaged, amount of capital invested, and 

 products taken since 1899*. In 1904 there were 91 persons engaged 

 and a capital of $33,745 employed. The products amounted to 1,093,386 

 pounds in 1904, compared with 677,578 pounds in 1899. These were 



