334 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the salmon fishery as now pervades this region, in common with the 

 Cohimbia Eiver and the Alaskan coast, was not dreamed of a few 

 decades ago, and its effects are not measurable by the older standards. 

 In this particular locality the growth of the industry has recently been 

 much accelerated, and with the experience now acquired an increase in 

 the catch from year to year is readily assured and will as manifestly be 

 demanded. The question is, Where will it end? The circumstances 

 have been so unusual that time alone can solve the problem. There 

 appears so far to have been no appreciable decrease in any of the 

 species, but, however abundant each may be, it seems impossible that 

 this condition could continue long. 



The situation presented by the salmon fishery is briefly as follows : 

 Six species of the group occur in this region, all edible and of commer- 

 cial value, but graded for the market in accordance with the quality, 

 the color, and the firmness of their flesh. The quinnat and the steel- 

 head are preferred for the fresh trade and the sockeye for canning. 

 The silver salmon, the humpback, and the dog salmon are utilized in 

 various ways, but whether fresh, salted, or canned they constitute an 

 inferior grade and generally sell at a lower price. 



With the variety and abundance of its salmon the region combines 

 physical characteristics which greatly increase its imjjortance as a pro- 

 ducing district. Its rivers, instead of emptying on an open and exposed 

 coast, have between them and the ocean a large and quiet sea, with 

 many long channels, through which the fish must pass in the journey 

 to their spawning-grounds. The advantages of this intermediate body 

 are two-fold, in that it greatly enlarges the fishing area and brings the 

 fish of every species in striking distance while still in the salt water, 

 when their condition is certain to be good. With these unusual opportu- 

 nities for following up the schools the necessity for adequate regulations 

 must be manifest to all. The more important forms are naturally most 

 actively and persistently sought after, leaving the others somewhat in 

 reserve, but not to such an extent as the general accounts might lead 

 one to suppose. The silver, humpback, and dog salmon are all employed 

 for canning on the United States side, and throughout most of Puget 

 Sound proper they are the only species which can be secured in suffl- 

 cient quantity for that purpose. Any system of protective regulations 

 should therefore contemplate providing for the welfare of the entire 

 salmon group; but with some species there is much greater urgency 

 for action than with others. 



Among the salmon, and in fact among all the fishes of the region, 

 the sockeye occupies the place of most prominence. While it holds 

 this position primarily by virtue of the deep color and excellent can- 

 ning quality of its flesh, its importance is equally due to its exceeding 

 abundance, greater in most years than that of any other species in the 

 localities it frequents, to its regular and well-defined movements, and 

 to its relatively early season, which insures the passage of most of the 

 schools i)ast the fishing-grounds quite well in advance of the spawning 



