FOOD PKODUCTS OF THE SEA — FISHES* 327 



land, Oregon, for Liverpool, England, comprised 56,756 

 cases, each containing four dozen one pound cans, 

 or their equivalent. The gross weight was over 1,400 

 tons. Two other ships followed soon after, both taking 

 nearly full cargoes. Large consignments were also 

 received at San Francisco, for reshipment to England, 

 Australia, and New York. The steamer Oregon, from 

 Portland, June 25th, brought 22,546 cases, the largest 

 invoice of the season if not the largest single shipment 

 ever made to San Francisco from the Columbia River. 



The business has grown rapidly, until now salmon- 

 packing is the largest industry, save wheat-growing, in 

 the north west, and more salmon is put up on the 

 Columbia river than in all other localities in the world. 

 In the year 1881, the quantity packed consisted of 

 540,000 cases at 5 dollars, against 4,000 cases in 1866 at 

 16 dollars. Between Cape Disappointment and the 

 Cascades there are thirty -iive canning establishments 

 and more than a dozen fishing stations. The greater 

 part of the indoor work is done by Chinamen, of whom 

 about 4,000 are employed on the river. 



The Califomian salmon is one of the largest of this 

 family. Its average weight in the Sacramento River is 

 twenty pounds, whale iri overgrown individuals it is as 

 high as 100 pounds. Its flavour when fresh, and pro- 

 perly cooked, is scarcely inferior to that of the Atlantic 

 coast salmon, (Salmo salar), and in the markets of Cali- 

 fornia and as far eastward as New York, it is sought as a 

 luxury and commands a high price. Prepared in cans 

 it finds a wide market throughout the United States 

 and Australia. In the season of 1875, 13,000,000 lbs. 

 were put up at the different canning establishments on 

 the Columbia river, worth on the average 6d. per 

 pound. 



In 1876, twenty million pounds of salmon were ex- 

 ported. The catch of salmon in the rivers Sacramento 

 and San Joachim in the year ending, August, 1879, was 

 4,432,250 lbs. The river Columbia furnishes 45 million 

 pounds annually. Astoria, in Oregon, is the centre for 



