SALMON FISHERIES OF PACIFIC COAST. 13 



Quiniault Rive)'. — This river, which enters the ocean in the north- 

 western part of Chehalis County, has a length from the ocean to 

 Quiniault Lake of about 40 miles, wholly within the boundaries of 

 the Quiniault Indian Reservation. Fishing is restricted to the In- 

 dians and the catch is generally shipped by rail to Hoquiam and 

 Aberdeen, on Grays Harbor, and sold to the dealers at these places. 



Grays Harbor. — This is the first important indentation on the coast 

 of Washington south of Cape Flattery. It is about 40 miles long 

 from east to west and about 20 miles wide in the widest part. The 

 principal tributary is the Chehalis River, but there are a number of 

 small streams which debouch into the harbor. 



As early as 1878 there was a cannery on Grays Harbor, but from 

 then until 1891 the data relating to this branch of the industry are 

 very meager. In 1910 two canneries were in operation at Aberdeen 

 and Hoquiam, respectively. 



Willapa Harbor. — The entrance to this harbor, which also includes 

 Shoalwater Bay, is about 27 miles south of Grays Harbor. The har- 

 bor runs east and west and is about 25 miles long. Shoalwater Bay 

 extends south from it a distance of about 30 miles ; its southern por- 

 tion ending about a mile from the Columbia River, and on the west- 

 ern side being separated from the ocean by a spit varying in width 

 from three-fourths to 1 mile. The bay is shallow, excepting in the 

 main channel. The principal salmon streams entering the harbor 

 are the Nasel and North Rivers, in which most of the pound or trap 

 nets are located. 



Data relating to the early history of the fisheries of this section 

 are very meager. In 1887 there were four canneries in operation, 

 probably the largest number ever operated. In 1910 there was but 

 one — at South Bend. 



COLUMBIA RIVER. 



The Columbia, which is the largest river of the Pacific coast, rises 

 in British Columbia, flows through "Washington, reaching the north- 

 ern border of Oregon about 75 miles west of the State's eastern 

 boundary: from this point the river forms the dividing line be- 

 tween Oregon and Washington, its general course being westerly. 

 It empties into the Pacific at Cape Disappointment. Its principal 

 tributaries are the Snake, John Day, Deschutes, and Williamette 

 Rivers, and through these the main river drains an enormous extent 

 of territory. 



This river, which has produced more salmon than any other river 

 in the world, has had a most interesting history. Many years be- 

 fore the white man saw its waters the Indians visited its banks 

 during the annual salmon runs and caught and cured their winter's 

 supply of food. It was about the year 1833 that a small trading 

 sloop, under the command of Capt. Lamont, came into the Columbia 



