184 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
nual shipment of about 3,000 barrels. At present the catch is nearly, 
all disposed of to the canneries, but in case a surplus is obtained it is 
usually salted. 
Fishing centers.-— The principal distributing point is Bandon, whence 
all shipments to San Francisco, or up the coast, are made. At this 
poiut there is a wharf for steamboats, by means of which only is this 
place accessible. Fishing stations or camps are located along the river 
for a distance of about miles above Bandon. At these camps the 
fish are collected, and either shipped fresh to the canneries, or salted, 
barreled, and sent to Bandon for shipment to San Francisco. 
Importance of the fisheries. — The total capital invested in the fisheries 
on this river in 1888 was $75,140, includiug boats, seines, gill nets, can- 
neries, horses, etc. There are three canneries on the river, but in 1888 
only two were in operation. These employed 40 hands in all. The 
men engaged in catching fish for the canneries numbered 222. The 
products for 1887 amounted to $13,800, and in 1888 to $11,460, not 
including the value of fresh salmon purchased by the canners from the 
fishermen of adjacent streams. 
Species , seasons , etc . — There is a variety of anadromous and local spe- 
cies in the Coquille, many of which are found only near its mouth, 
where the water is salt or brackish. Quinnat, silver, and steelhead 
salmon, salmon trout, shad, sardines, smelt, anchovies, herring, stur- 
geon, sole, flounders, tomcod, perch, and suckers occur in abundance at 
proper seasons. The salmon run usually begins about September 1, 
though it is said that in previous years the season began as early as the 
1st of August. The quinnat is the first salmon to appear, and the run 
generally lasts until October. About the middle of September silver 
salmon and steelheads (though very few of the latter are taken) arrive 
and continue until about the middle of October. 
Shad first made their appearance in the Coquille River during 1884 , 
when a few were caught. Since that year there has been an annual 
increase in the number taken, and 30 shad were caught in one haul of 
a salmon seine in 1889. 
Fishing grounds.— The seining and gill net reaches extend from the 
mouth of the river to Myrtle Point, about 45 miles inland. From below 
Bandon to a short distance above Randolph gill nets are set entirely on 
the left side of the river, while above Randolph they reach from one side 
of the stream to the other, completely closing it to the passage of fish. 
Fishermen , lay , etc.— A number of Columbia River fishermen annually 
pursue the fall fishing on the Coquille River; 38 men were so engaged 
in 1888 and 55 in 1889. The catch is purchased by the piece at the can- 
neries; the prices are 60 cents each for quinnat and 40 cents for silver 
salmon. The boats and nets are owned partly by the fishermen and 
partly by the canners, who let them to the fishermen on condition that 
one third of the catch shall be given for the use of the apparatus. 
Boats and apparatus— The boats are all flat-bottomed “ skiffs,” with 
