Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-09-14
THE NEW FISHERY ON FOX ISLAND.

The enterprise Il a company O. San
Francisco gentlemen has brought in play
on the Sound an attempt to develop our
great fishing facilities. The enterprise is
incorporated under the laws Of California
as the North Pacific Commercial Co. Its
works arc located on Fox Island, about ten
miles from, and in view Of, Steilacoom.
From gentleman who recently visited
these works, We have the following report
l had heard SO much of this new fishery,
l determined to visit it; accordingly, with
one or two Others chartered sail boat,
and in due season reached the island.
Castlenook, the name of the place at which
the works are located, is beautiful blight
near the western end of Fox Island, look
ing out on Hcudcrson's Bay. The place
seen from the water is very pretty, though
somewhat concealed by the high gravclly
beach that shelters it. The oil factory con-
sists ola two story building 4Ox60 feet, with
adjacent sheds. In the building is on iron
tank or cylinder, holding perhaps eight
hundred gallons, boiler of ten horse
power, a screw press, a small steam engine,
an Excelsior mill, and sundry large tanks
lined with zinc, which were nearly full of
oil. The basement Of the building is
stored with barrels. Mr.. II. A. Lowe,
foreman at the works, is an intelligent
man who understands his business, and
gives it constant attention. We inquired
for Col. B. s. rardee, the Superintendent
Of the company, and learned he was off
with the trawl" men. An inquiry as
to what that meant lead to the informa-
ton that four means of fishing are en-
ployed: wears, or large traps of poles !;
pounds, species of stationery nets; seines
and travis. These last are drop lines con-
tanning two hundred or more hooks which
are anchored many fathoms deep. Some
times the fish are in deep water, at others
in shore. The wears, pounds and seines,
take one way, the travis the other. The
principal oil fish Of the Sound is the dog.
fish. These are everywhere at times, but
in no place long. Some days the catch
will dwiudle to few hundred, on others
it is much greater. 1907.
Two grades Of oil are made by the compa-
ny, one from the livers, the other from the
body of the fish. The first has no su-
perior for lubricatiug purposes except pure
sperm oil. Besides oil, the company are
making extensive preparations for putting
up marketable fish, and for supplying a
rich aud low-priced fertilizer, called fish
guano. I should think it would take at
least a year to put their plans all into exc
cution, but enough has been done to satisfy
our party that the new fishery was already
an undisputable success. Before we left,
the Superintendent returned to the island,
but while he seemed ready to answer any
general questions, VIC found him very re-
ticent about plans for extending the bust
ness, and we did not gain anything by
waiting for him, except courteous treat
ment and good cigar apiece. a'
Besides the factory, there are other
buildings for the employees, and large
tent, in which the family of the Superin-
tendent and some young ladies from Olym-
pia seemed to be enjoying their island rus
tication.
Since this article was placed in type, Mr..
Creighton, the engineer at CastIenook has
been in town. He reports daily catch Of
three or four thousand large fish. g IL