The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-12-05
es of salmon:

Rogue i(lVer, spring PACK. lf,UUJ
. Fall pack....- 5000
Total. ............... 4a6.SO0
The above total number of cases is
equal to 20,601 900 pounds.
This is a shortage from the pack of
'SS of $4,000 cases, 10000 of which we
have already accounted for in the Vi
cinity of the Cascades.
The coast streams are short the
balance, not so much on account of
the scarcity of fish (the run being an
average one in ali the coast streams
and the fish of better quality than il
former years. as of a falling market,
and the packers did not care to han
die the fish unless there was a small
profit made OF them.
The statistics given thus far are for
salmon that have been packed in tin
cans. when we add to this the amount
used fresh in our home markets, which
is abont 100000 pounds; and those
shipped to eastern markets, which
amounts to 100000 pounds, and
those consumed by the Indians and
cured for their winters use, and the
amount the resident fishermen have
for their winter use, it will swell the
sum by at least 2,000, 900 pounds, MAX
ing a grand total of 25, ,10l 800 pounds
OF salmon that have been taken from
our waters during the the season OF
1889.
Now let us see what the commercial
value of this industry is to the state.
There have been packed 426,S00
cases in tin cans, of these 100000
cases were first class goods and sold
at an average of S625 per cases or
$1,S75,0O0, 126,S00 cases were second
quality, or fall salmon and sold at an
average of $500 per case, or 1854, 900.
making the total value of salmon
packed in tins on the Columbia river
and streams wholly within the state
S2,509,0O0. The 100000 pounds that
have been shipped east and consumed
in our home markets fresh can safely
be considered worth s cts per pound
making $200,000 which added to the
$2,5O9,000 for canned goods makes a
grand total of S2,709,0O0.
As Will be seen by the foregoing
figures the salmon industry of this
state is of vast importance and should
receive more consideration from the
general public than the other Why
Because thus far it has cost nothing
to produce the salmon that have been
taken from year to year, they have
neither had TO he fed or sheltered,
sOwed or reaped-we were about to
say But alas! while the sowing has
begun but recently, the reaping has
been going on for more than thirty
years, but the time is near at hand
when the harvest will surely fail in-
less more attention is given to the
planting.
In our last report we gave some
facts in regard to planting salmon in
the Rogue river and the results OBJ
tained therefrom. The good work is
still going on there. as about 250,000
young fish were planted there last
season, with fair prospect for nearly
a million for this season.
There has been some talk through
The newspapers and otherwise in re-
gard to illegal distractions being
placed across Rogue river at or near
its, mouth. While we have not re-
ceived- any complaints, we have been
informed that for a short time, rack
was placed across the river near the
falls for the purpose OF obtaining sal
mon from which to secure the eggs
for the hatchery. This Is allowed by
law OH any stream lii the state. and
from the quantity of salmon taken at
Gold Hill, 100 miles up the river, and
shipped to Portland and the canneries
on the Columbia, we think they have
not been obstructed TO any great ex-
tent.
In the beginning of this report we
gave some facts in regard to the plant
ing of shad in the Hudson river and
the results obtained there from. Now
to impress the Importance of planting
fish more fully upon the minds Of all
who may read this, and to convince
those who may have some doubts as
to the results of fish culture, we Will
refer you to the salmon pack of the
Fraser, river, just over the line in
British Columbia. We quote from
the report of Mr.. Thomas Mowal in
spector of fisheries for the province
of British Columbia.
He says there has been turned out
from the hatchery ON the Fraser river
since it commenced operations the
following number of fry. = +. 49,
Year.
1885. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100000
III