156 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Summary of ihe salmon-eanniny industry of the Columbia lUver from its origin to the present time. 
Tear. 
Gross weiglit 
of salmon 
utilized. 
Number of 
cases 
packed. 
Value. 
Average 
value 
X>er case. 
1866 
Founds. 
260, 000 
4, 000 
$64, 000 
$16. 00 
1867 
1, 170, 000 
18, 000 
288. 000 
16. 00 
1868 
1, 820, 000 
28, 000 
392, UdO 
14. 00 
186!) 
6, 500, 000 
100, 000 
1,350, 000 
13.50 
1870 
9, 750, 000 
150, 000 
1,800,000 
12. 00 
1871 
13, 000, 000 
200, 000 
2, 100, 000 
10. 50 
1872 
16, 250, 000 
250, 000 
2, 325, 000 
9. SO 
1878 
16, 250, 000 
250. 000 
2, 250, 000 
9. 00 
1874 
22, 750, 000 
350, 000 
2, 625, 000 
7. 50 
1875 
24, 375, 000 
375, 000 
2, 250, 000 
6. 00 
1876 
29, 250, 000 
450. 000 
2, 475, 000 
5. 50 
1877 
24, 700, 000 
380, 000 
2, 052, 000 
5. 40 
1878 
29, 900. 000 
460, 000 
2, 300, 000 
5. 00 
1870 
31, 200, 000 
480, 000 
2. 640, 000 
5. 50 
1880 
34, 450, 000 
530, 000 
2, 650, 000 
5. 00 
Tear. 
Gross weight 
of salmon 
utilized. 
NumOer of 
cases 
packed. 
Value. 
Average 
value 
per case. 
1881 
Pounds. 
35, 750, 000 
5.50, (100 
$2, 475, 000 
$4. 50 
1882 
35, 184,500 
541. 300 
2. 600, 000 
4.80 
18.83 
40,911,000 
629, 400 
3, 147, 000 
5.00 
1884 
40, 300, 000 
629, 400 
2, 915, 000 
4. 70 
1885 
35, 997, 000 
553, 800 
2, 500, 000 
4.51 
1886 
29, 152, 000 
448, 500 
2,135, 000 
4.76 
1887 
23, 140, 000 
356, 000 
2, 124, 000 
5.97 
1888 
24,211,005 
372, 477 
2, 327, 981 
6.25 
1889 
20, 685, >195 
309, 885 
1, 809, 820 
5.84 
1890 
28,781,385 
435, 774 
398, 953 
2. 407,456 
5. 52 
1891 
26, 450, 635 
2, 240, 964 
5.62 
1892 
32, 185, 995 
487, 338 
2, 679, 069 
5, 50 
1893 
24, 050, 000 
370, 000 
2, 107, 500 
5. 70 
Total . 
658,424,515 
10, 098, 427 
59, 029,790 
5,85 
Ciiiuiiiig' operations on the Columbia River began in 18GG, when 4,000 cases were 
liaclced and sold at an average of $1G per case. As early as 1872 the total pack 
reached 250,000 cases, tlie price per case .having declined to |9. Each succeeding 
year operations were extended and reached their culmination in 1883 and 1884, when 
ui)wards o4 -000,000 cases were packed each season. From this time on the catch, 
declined, having reached its lowest point in 1889, the number of cases packed that, 
season being 309,885, or less than half the number of cases packed in 1883 and 1884. 
Up to 1888, practically the entire pack -consisted of the king or chinook salmon, 
and the fishing season did not extend beyond the first of August. In 1889 the packers 
began canning blnebacks and steelheads to make up the deficiency in the supply, and 
extended their operations to the first of September. 
DETAILED STATISTICS OF THE SALMON INDUSTRY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER, 1889-92.. 
The following series of tables shows, in some detail, the extent of the salmon fishery 
and canning industry of the Columbia River during the years 1889 to 1892, inclusive, 
as determined by the inquiries conducted by this Commission. 
The number of fishermen and shore employes connected with the salmon industry 
in each of the years named is indicated in Table A: 
A. — Table showing the number of persons employed in the salmon industry of the Columbia River from 
1889 to 189£. 
How engaged. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
Oregon : 
Pisliermen 
1,606 
1, 648 
1,929 
2, 064 
Shoresmen and cannery emxdoj'es 
870 
1,028 
1, 057 
1, 100 
Total 
2, 476 
2, 712 
2, 986 
3, 164 
TTashington : 
T'isliermen 
1,535 
1,510 
1, 575 
1,677 
Shoresmen and cannery employes 
594 
602 
654 
704 
Total 
2,129 
2, 112 
2, 229 
2,381 
Total for river ; 
rishermen 
3, 141 
3, 194 
3, 504 
3,741 
Shoresmen and cannery employes 
1, 464 
1, 630 
1, 711 
1, 804 
Total 
4, 605 
4,824 
5, 215 
5, 545 
