238 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
are in the vicinity of Long Island. The artificial or transplanted beds 
are on the west side of the bay, near Oysterville, and on the east side, 
between the mouths of the Palux and Whilapah Rivers. Clams are 
found at different points along the west shore of the bay. 
Fishermen , lay, etc . — The salmon fishermen receive 60 cents apiece for 
quinnat salmon and 30 to 33 cents each for silver salmon ; this is about 
3 cents a pound for the fish as they come from the water. The earnings 
of the oysterinen are governed entirely by the quantities taken and the 
demand in the market. 
Apparatus, boats , etc .— The gill nets, pound nets, boats, etc., are essen- 
tially the same as those already described for other localities. 
Methods .— The methods of fishing for salmon, both by pounds and gill 
nets, are practically the same as on the Columbia and other points along 
the coast. 
The oyster industry .— Shoal water Bay is celebrated on the Pacific coast 
for its oysters, which occur abundantly there on natural beds. For a 
number of years the oyster supply of San Francisco ^as obtained solely 
from this source. Since the eastern oyster was first successfully trans- 
planted to beds in San Francisco Bay, however, the importance of the 
Shoalwater Bay oyster fishery has steadily declined in about the same 
ratio as the importation of Atlantic oysters has increased. 
The oysters are small, and have a strong flavor that makes them ob- 
jectionable to an uncultivated taste, but nevertheless they are highly 
prized by the natives of the coast. The most extensive natural oyster- 
beds on the west coast are in this bay, mostly in the southern section in 
the vicinity of Long Island. By referring to the accompanying chart, 
(plate xli) it will be seen that a number of cultivated or transplanted 
beds are marked. The transplanting of oysters from the natural to the 
cultivated beds has become necessary because the bottom of the bay 
near the natural beds is rapidly filling up with vegetable growths, and 
many areas which were once profitable oyster grounds are now worth- 
less. Natural oyster beds are protected by law between June 15 and 
September 1, during which time the light demand in the markets is 
supplied from planted beds. Oysters can not be taken from the natural 
beds during the close season ; but private beds can be worked by their 
owners, and are also protected by law. 
In the oyster fishery the methods are somewhat similar to those in 
vogue in San Francisco Bay. During the warm months oysters are 
taken by hand from the beds, which are exposed at low tide. In the 
winter they are gathered chiefly with tongs. While the tide is in, or 
high, large bateaux are towed to the oyster beds and anchored, where 
they ground at low tide. The men then gather the oysters from the 
uncovered beds, and cull and load them on the scows. When there is a 
sufficient quantity on the craft, they are towed to the home station, where 
the oysters are unloaded into u live-cars ” until ready for market or 
shipment. Sometimes the bateaux are sailed across the bay with their 
