24 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
is heavier and is retained in the pores better than either sand or lime, 
while litharge is the heaviest and more like the natural color of the 
sponge than either of the other articles used. It fills the pores better 
and there is less chance of detecting its use than that of the other sub- 
stances, but it is highly injurious. It is frequently used in increasing 
the weight of sponges to such an extent as to reduce the price from 50 
cents to $1 per pound. It will thus be seen that dealers and consumers 
need to be constantly on their guard in purchasing sponges, or to buy 
only of the most reputable houses. Whenever sponges purporting to 
be pure or natural are offered below the ruling market price of repu- 
table houses, there is good cause for suspecting them to be adulterated. 
Appalachicola, Fla., May 5, 1887. 
9.— STATISTICS OF THE FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH 
COECMBIA FOR 1886. 
By THOMAS MOWAT, 
Inspector of the Fisheries . 
Statistics of vessels , nets, establishments , and men engaged in the fisheries of British Colum- 
bia during 1886. 
13 steamers an<| steam auxiliaries, from 3 to 60 tons j 
16 schooners, from 40 to 80 tons } $126, 000 
18 sloops, from 1 to 12 tons .* j 
994 fishing boats ) ^ ^ 
196 fishing canoes, cedar y ’ 
64 flat-boats and scows 7, 615 
$186, 080 
1,066 salmon nets, 332,220 yards 123, 690 
2 herring seines 600 
36 herring nets 4, 500 
65 fish seines 13, 375 
14 eulachon nets 1,700 
143, 865 
25 salmon canneries, estimated value 449,500 
1 oil factory, Queen Charlotte Islands 10, 000 
1 floating cannery and oil factory 60, 000 
Various salting stations 20, 000 
Ice-houses and buildings for the shipment of salmon in ice 3, 000 
542,500 
Total value 872, 445 
Sailors - - - 167 
Fishermen .* - 3, 608 
Native hunters 291 
Shoremen - 2, 145 
Total number of men engaged 6, 211 
