REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER Of FISHERIES. 148 
of some former year when the run was greatest, but this year all the old fishermen 
acknowledged it to surpass all that they had seen or have ever heard of, and even 
now, more than two weeks after the season has closed, the river is known to be full 
of fish hunting around for their natural spawning grounds. The character of the 
fish was equally as remarkable as its size, considering how late in the season it 
arrived. In years gone by the June run, which came late in June or early in July, 
was considered the best fish for commercial purposes in color and richness, but this 
run did not appear, but in its place the great run, fully four weeks later, and it was 
in fact the ‘“‘ June” run, as the appearance and quality of the fish were identical. 
Salmon continued to arrive in a solid body until August 15, the 
beginning of the close season. During these fifteen days a pack of 
over 191,000 cases was made—over half the entire output of the river 
for the season—and fishermen, cannery employees, and all others con- 
nected with the fishery worked almost unceasingly, resting only a few 
hours at a time. At the close of the season there were few men either 
directly or indirectly connected with the Columbia River fisheries who 
were not greatly interested in the artificial propagation of salmon, and 
who did not strongly urge its support. The consensus of opinion now 
is that the future abundance of salmon in this region depends almost 
wholly on the amount of fry liberated from the hatcheries. 
Heretofore the spring run of salmon of the Columbia River has 
always commanded a higher price than fish taken later in the season, 
the meat of the early fish being of a brighter color and containing 
more oil than fish taken during the fall run. A change in the quality 
of the fall run of fish was noticed about two years ago, when a con- 
siderable number of fish were found to possess all the qualities of 
spring fish. In the fall of 1902 a larger percentage of this kind of 
fish was noticed, and from the phenomenal fall run in 1903 a large ~ 
portion of the pack made was composed of salmon that could be 
classed as ‘*spring fish.” Many theories are advanced in explanation 
of the superior qualities of this run of salmon over that of past years, 
it being claimed by many persons that it is due to the work of the 
hatcheries, because only the best fish are selected for spawning pur- 
poses. Others maintain that the change in the quality of the runs is 
due to natural causes. 
Eighteen canneries and 9 cold-storage plants were operated in 
Oregon in 1903, representing an approximate value of $650,000. The 
output of the canneries was 306,031 cases, valued at $1,558,399. The 
fish handled by the cold-storage plants were as follows: Chinook 
salmon, mild cured, 6,740,200 pounds; fishermen’s price, $404,412; 
frozen fish, consisting mostly of silver salmon, dog salmon, and steel- 
head trout, 1,024,843 pounds; value, $48,079. 
The number of men directly connected with canneries was 4,172. 
The fishing apparatus consisted of 18 traps, 35 fish wheels, 40 drag 
Seines, and 876 gill nets, the combined value of which amounted to 
