64 



Agriculture 



In 1987, agriculture in the Chehalis Basin generated an estimated $96 million 

 per year from about 200,000 acres (WDA, unpublished 1987 data, WDA 1991). 

 Lewie County has a greater amount of land in agriculture than other Basin 

 counties. Farmland is about equally divided between pasture and crops. Farms 

 average about 100 acres, and slightly over half the operators derive most of 

 their income from non-farming sources. About 80 percent of farm income came 

 from livestock and their products, such as beef, milk, and eggs. Of the 

 remaining 20 percent, hay is the predominant crop while peas and corn axe also 

 important. The GHRPC (19?2) lists other specialty crops such as cranberries, 

 oysters, farm-raised trout, and Christmas trees. 



Touriii 



Grays Harbor County attracts more tourists than other coastal Washington 

 counties. Tourism to Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties generated about $50 

 million in 1989, up $5 million from 1988 (ICF Technology Inc. 1988). Most 

 visitors to these counties were Puget Sound residents, and less than 10 

 percent came from out of state (ICF Inc. 1988). Local government is promoting 

 sport fishing as a basis for increased tourism to help compensate for some of 

 the losses in the timber industry (Larry Wilder, Grays Harbor Tourism Council, 

 pers. coram. ) . The goal is year-round sport fishing opportunity, supported by 

 increased runs of spring and fall Chinook salmon and summer steelhead (Larry 

 Wilder, Grays Harbor Tourism Council, pers. comm. ) . The result of fishery 

 improvement is expected to be reflected in increased sport fishing-related 

 purchases at restaurants, bars, motels, and sporting goods and grocery stores. 



Fishing and Related Activities 



The Basin has important commercial, charter, and private sport fisheries 

 (Table 3) and related businesses. Marinas serve commercial and recreational 

 boats at Ocean Shores, Aberdeen, Hoguiam, and West port. Grays Harbor also has 

 boat construction and repair businesses, retail fishing supply houses, and 

 associated accommodations (GHRPC 1992). 



Commercial fisheries 



Most commercial fishing boats based in Grays Harbor fish outside the Harbor on 

 Chinook and eoho salmon, bottomfish, and crab. The two major commercial 

 salmon fisheries based in Grays Harbor are the troll and gill net fisheries. 

 The catch is processed at plants in Westport, Hoguiam, and Taholah. The 

 amount of Washington salmon available to commercial fisheries and processors 

 depends primarily on run sizes and harvest and escapement goals (ICF 

 Technology, Inc. 1988), although allocation of catch to sport fisheries 

 clearly constrains commercial opportunities in many years (Stone, WDF, pers. 

 comm. ) . 



