* 
750 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
the other hand, the high water of the present spring has undoubtedly caused many fish to become 
spring salmon which would otherwise have run in the fall. Moreover, it is urged that a few years 
ago, when the number caught was about half as great as now, the amount of netting used was per. 
haps one-eighth as much. With a comparatively small outfit the canners caught half the fish; now, 
with nets much larger and more numerous, they catch them all, scarcely any escaping during tho fish- 
ing season (April 1 to August 1). Whether an actual reductionin the number of fish running can 
be proven or not, there can be no question that the present rate of destruction of the salmon will 
deplete the river before many years. A considerable number of quinnat salmon run in August 
and September, and some stragglers even later; these now are all which keep up the supply of 
fish in the river. The non-molestation of this fall run, therefore, does something to atone for the 
almost total destruction of the spring run. 
This, however, is insufficient. A well-ordered salmon hatchery is the only means by which 
the destruction of the salmon in the river can be prevented. This hatchery should be ander the 
control of Oregon and Washington, and should be supported by a tax levied on the canned fish. 
It should be placed on a stream where the quinnat salmon actually come to spawn. 
It has been questioned whether the present hatchery on the Clackamas River actually receives 
the quinnat salmon in any numbers. It is asserted, in fact, that the eggs of the silver salmon and 
dog salmon, with scattering quinnat, are hatched there. We have no exact information as to the 
truth of these reports, but the matter should be taken into serious consideration. 
9. SALMON OIL. 
A factory for making oil from salmon-heads is in operation at Astoria, Mr. T. 0. George being 
the proprietor. It was established last year, when 18,000 gallons were made, and sold at about 24 
cents. The salmon-heads are bought from the canneries at the rate of 1,000 heads for $1. On an 
average, a thousand heads make 30 to 35 gallons of oil. The factory is only run during the can- 
ning season. The heads are cooked by steam, and the oil is run off from the top. The process is 
here rather crude, the factory not having yet ventured on improved machinery. After the salmon 
season this year Mr. George proposes to make oil from seals and bears. Many of the fishermen 
propose to use their gill-nets for catching seals and sea-lions after the salmon run. An oil factory 
in. Upper Astoria has been leased by Mr. George, but is not now running. Another belongs to 
Watson, but is (probably) now silent. There is scarcely any oil in the viscera of Oncorhynchus 
chouicha. Salmon oil is usually mixed with other and dearer oils, and not thrown separately on 
the market. 
The following is the record of a salmon oil factory at Astoria: 
Capital invested -.........-----.------ +--+ ween eee cece eee eee eee cone tenes $2, 000 
Men iemployed ascii. sammie yeromacncwawmdsiccawiaw edme wien siuidsastise coteseewownasica number.. 6 
One boiler, one OngiNe sss sesacisausien cece snes cbee cess oe eeecewe seen horse-power.. 35 
Average wages per day of ten hours ...... 2.2... 2.0 eee eee eet e eee cee cee ween eee $2 
Total paid in wages... csassaeasensseecee saline acics Seeses ie seeescccessceccosewamevees $1, 000 
Length of season, ... oe ecececssu sien wesjesicisisias siciels Son's meee Seeedemcsbwces ence ec cen months. . 3 
Value of material... ...0esasecseiscon seneivicises subs idccs ces coceec cnwe neve aieisesteewe $2, 500 
