The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-29
AMONG THE SALMON FISHERS.
Something About the Big Industry In
the Northwest.

p06 NOrtQWo5C.
Edward Lane, of this city, has recently
returned from Washington territory, where
he spent the summer among the salmon
fisheries He will return there in March.
He gives some interesting information con-
corning the fishery industry Of the north
west.
The principal salmon fisheries are on the
Columbia river, which flows through Wash
ington territory, dividing the territory
from Oregon. The river, at the dividing
line, is about three miles wide, and
for two hundred miles along its banks
canning factories are established. There
are about 200 factories in all and they
employ about 5000 men. There are be-
tween 5000 and 5000 fishermen who furnish
the factories with salmon.
All the labor in the factories is done by
the Chinese. They have come INTO the ter
ritory within the last few years and have
driven the white Gamers out of the factor
les by reducing the wages per case of sal
mon, from rs cents to 80 cents. The fisher
men are principally whites They supply
the canneries with fish at cents per pound.
Salmon weigh all the way from ten pounds,
up to thirty and forty pounds each, and
fishermen very often make as high as $50
and $40 in half day.
The ways Of catching salmon are many.
Nets are used extensively by the poorer
classes of fishermen, and when they strike
school of salmon 1t is like finding so much
gold. They find ready sale for all they
catch. The better class of fishermen have
large wheels, similar to the paddle wheel of
a boat, constructed on scaffolding over the
water, so as to be lowered or raised to the
water according as the river is high or low.
These wheels have large slanting boxes in
them, and the current keeps it revolving all
the while. The water that goes into the
boxes finds an outlet in a large side box
attached to the wheel. The salmon in
making their way up the current run
into these boxes in the wheel and are thrown
into the side boxes where there is no way of
escape. The wheel is in revolution all the
while, and several thousand pounds of
salmon are caught daily.
Thunderbolt man who went to Wash
ington territory several years ago first in
PRODUCED the wheels in the west. There are
also what are called pounds Owing to the
capital required IN the construction of a
pound but few fishermen are able to
use that means of catching salmon. Several
hundred feet of piling are driven
down in the river, so as not to allow any
fish to pass, and at the end Of the piling
which extends some distance out into the
river, basket is constructed. The salmon
follow the piling and ensnare themselves In
the basket. This is said to be the most eff
fectual means of catching them.
A Savannah man named Quinn, who
went to the west during the war, has
amassed a fortune with the pound"
Salmon are not considered as delicate a
dish up there as here" said Mr.. Lane; "the
people prefer other fish"
The season for catching salmon begins in
April and continues until October. The
law prohibits salmon fishing after that
time. The fishermen employ their winter
months in mending their nets, traps. etc.
The sturgeon is caught in the winter and
shipped over the territory. Mo- many
engage in sturgeon fishing, however.