5 
THE SALMON FISHERIES OF THE LOWER COLUMBIA. 749 
Others lose through packing cans in green boxes, through economy. In the ship’s hold the 
boxes sweat, the labels come off, and the saleableness of the salmon is depreciated if not the fish 
itself. * 
Some lose from leaving the canneries untenanted for the idle season, leaving boats to shrink, 
boards to be stolen, and things generally to go to ruin. . 
Some lose through not having a stock of nets, &c., sufficient to make up losses without delay. 
There are also numerous minor leaks, which are known only to those thoroughly conversant 
with the business, 
7. HISTORY OF THE CANNING INDUSTRY. 
The Humes first began canning salmon on the Columbia, in a small way, about 1870, at Hagle 
Cliff. At first the salmon were obtained at about 10 cents each and sold at $8 per case. The first 
years were very profitable, except 1873, when loss was occasioned through the failure of numerous 
banks. 
Since then improved methods have come in. Competition and strikes have raised the price 
of fish, and from 1876 to 1880 the river has become a perfect web of nets. In 1876, the river was 
first fished “for all that it was worth.” The canneries on the lower river or “bay” are gradually 
“cutting out” those above, and to get fish enough now a fisherman must operate very near the 
mouth of the river. Some of the canneries 20 miles up the river now send their boats to As- 
toria and take up the fish on steam-tugs. The canneries above Astoria must, therefore, in the 
nature of things, be forced to suspend in time unless a change takes place. - 
It became evident three or four years ago to the canners that the supply of salmon would not 
last forever, and a contribution was first made to form a joint-stock company for the purpose of 
building a hatchery which should keep up the supply. 
A fishery law was passed in Washington and in Oregon, to take effect in each district, if 
ratified by the other, substantially as follows: 
(1) Fishing was prohibited in March, August, and September. 
(2) Fishing was prohibited from 6 p. m. Saturday to 6 p. m. Sunday. 
(3) Gill-net mesh should not be less than 44 inches square, seines not less than 3, and traps 
should not have tbeir slats less than 24 inches apart. 
(4) Licenses were charged as follows : 
Bach: boatir2cccacseconicce cesses viins ciseeet soceaa ddedese eee cox ection Gatmeamenee ee $10 00 
Each man with gill-net.... 22.22... 02-0 cone coc eee cece ee cece cee cee cnc cee conten anneneee 5 00 
Bach dip eb: << sisi. sucess toicieaeieewisesaawiieee aie bgwe sis dbie sectesie Se wks wees ee c esse egiesaicteise 2 00 
Hah tT Aap sisiccieps oe croc iccclciajereishs) divwinidie fnisiaie aie Steins stain ine si disleiaeoeie ese ee ss ceeicincrers Aaysioee gee See 50 00 
Hach seine .... 2.02. eee ne cnn cee eee ee cee e nes fais n'oles“winiaes-e-wie wia'e peters lesa eleeiacarsidie wiajw'aws's 2 ters 10 00 
(5) The proceeds of these licenses should be applied to the propagation of salmon under the 
direction of a “‘fish commissioner of the Columbia.” 
A point on a tributary of the Columbia River was selected as being the most available for 
the purpose, and a hatchery was built. The support of the State and Territory has now been 
withdrawn, as the law under which it was given has been for some reason declared unconstitutional. 
Its future depends on the re-enactment of some similar law, as the hatchery cannot be kept up by 
voluntary contributions. 
8. FUTURE OF THE SALMON FISHERIES. 
As to the question of the diminution of salmon in the Columbia River the evidence appears 
somewhat conflicting; the catch during the present year (1880) bas been considerably greater than 
ever before (nearly 540,000 cases), although the fishing since 1876 has been very extensive. On 
