NOTES ON 'J'HE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
225 
many scientific problems affecting the commercial tisheries of the west coast which 
could here be studied to great advantage. 
On June 13 I left San Francisco for Portland, Oreg., where I arrived June 15, 
and where the three following days were passed in interviewing persons interested in 
the salmon industry. 
While at Portlaud a day (June 16) was occui)ied in a visit to the U. S. Fish 
Commission station on the Clackamas Kiver and to the falls of Willamette Eiver at 
Oregon City. Both streams were high and muddy. close personal inspection of 
the tails disclosed the presence of a large inimber of salmon immediately below the 
cascades, although no tish- were observed in the act of ascending the falls. The rocks 
over wldch the water was breaking and at the sides of the falls were literally covered 
Avith lampreys {Entosphenus tridentatus) endeavoring to reach the headwaters of the 
river. 
From Portland it Avas my intention- to Ausit the Cascades and The Dalles, but this 
had to be abandoned, owing to the high Hoods, which had caiised a discontinuance of 
fishing, had entirely suspended railroad com munication with the upper Columbia, 
and had rendered water transportation uncertain. This state of affairs made it pos- 
sible to study the fisheries of only the loAver river, Avhich were but little affected by 
the high water. ^ 
Portlaud Avas left on June 19 and Astoria AAms reached on the next day. The 
three following daj'S Avere occupied in examination of the canneries and fisheries of 
that place and vicinity. 
My inspection of the important fisheries of the lower Columbia Eiver was greatly 
aided by Mr. M. J. Kinney, of Astoria, who, in addition to other courtesies, extended 
the use of his steam launch for a Ausit to the pound-net and seining grounds at Sand 
Island and in Baker Bay, thus permitting a closer and more satisfactory study of the 
conditions than AAmuld have otherwise been possible. 
I returned to Portlaud on June 24 and’ left the next day for Washington, D. C., 
where I arrived July2. 
GENERAL REMARKS ON THE WEST COAST FISHERIES. 
The general commercial fisheries of the Pacific States are of more recent origin 
than those of any other- coast section of the country, and, Avith the exception of the 
salmon fishery, they are less developed than those of any other region. It is true 
that some branches of the fisheries Avere established before the acrpiisition of the 
territory by the United States, but it was only at a comparatively recent date that 
the taking of the salmon for commercial purposes began, while the utilization of most 
other fishery resources has had a much later origin. Kevertheless, in the period of 
thirty years, during w'nich it may be said the fisheries of the AA^est coast have existed, 
the industry has attained great imiiortauce and uoav ranks next to that of the Kew 
England and Middle Atlantic States in extent and value. There seems no reason to 
doubt that the business will assume Amstly greater proportions in the near future, 
although there is cause to apprehend a decline in several imi)ortant branches, as, for 
instance, the salmon, the whale, the fur-seal, and the sea-otter fisheries. 
The Amrious phases of the fishing industry of the Avest coast, including Alaska, 
give emi)loyment to about 17,000 persons, the capital invested amounts to about 
$8,900,000, and the annual Amlue to the fishermen of the products taken is approxi- 
mately $7,300,000. 
F. C. B. 1894-15 
