Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-21
THE CITY'S GROWTH.
Amazed Geo. 7. Myers, Who Returned
After an Absence of 81 Years.
NOW AN OREGON SALMON PACKER.
The Joys and Sorrows of Fishermen on the
Columbia River.
EXPORTS FROM THE PACIFIC COAST

Mr. George T. Myers and wife, of Port
land, Ore, who have been spending the last
week at the Duquesne, left Pittsburg yester-
day for the East. Mr. Myers is an old resi-
dent of the town, having struck West 81
wears ago, after coming to the conclusion
that the city had reached its full measure OF
growth. He wanted TO get into a country
where there was more energy and enterprise.
His surprise, therefore, when he returned to
the city was great, and its marvellous devel-
opment in 81 years amazed him. He SAYS
he feels like Rip Van Wrinkle did when
he awoke from his long sleep. At first
he didn't know the city at ell, but as he
rubbed his eyes and looked around he here
and there found ar old landmark that re-
minded him of the city of so years ago.
GREAT BUSINESS ENERGY.
'Pittsb urgers, said he yesterday, at the
DUouesne, scarcely realize now much the
citv has grown Its buildings and business
will compare favorably with older cities;
The town and spirit of the people remind
me of San Francisco. In the matter OF
street car lines you are away ahead OF many
places. L can scarcely realize the change.
Mr. Myers is the son of the late Jacob
MYERS. of the f rm of Myers & Hunter, and
a nephew of the. late William Gormley. He
still finds many of his old boyhood friends
here. When Mr.. Myers went West he
located in Oregon, and engaged in salmon
packing. He now has large canneries on
the Columbia river and Puget Sound.
In chatting about the business yesterday;
he said:
REMARKABLE GROWTH.
Salmon fishing and packing has grown
TO be an extensive business along the Pacific
coast. Last wear our exports from Oregon
amounted to 81, OOO, 900, and the pack for the
coast from San Francisco to Alaska was
COO. 600 salmon.
The catches of the fnnv tribe ia the
Puget Sound and the Columbia river have
been so large that the FISH are becoming
scarcer and more costly. We are now by
hatcheries and artificial methods of incuba-
tion trying to keep up the yearly supply
At least we hope to offset some of the heavy
hauls made. This year the output will not
be more than half pack. When 1 left the
fishermen on the Columbia river were out on
a strike, and expect it will interfere with
the trade. L don't believe the Gamers will
WELD to their demands.
"The salmon is beautiful fish, and catch
ing them is exciting sport. In the Colum-
bia river thew weigh on an average %
pounds. but l have seen some that tipped
the scales IT so pounds. The Puget Sound
salmon weighs from to 10 pounds, and is a
driver fish. He is not so popular now as his
iuicier companion in the river but the de-
mand TOR the Puget Sound fish is increasing
rapidly.
EASY TO CATCH.
1.-The habits of the salmon make them easy
to catch. They never retreat, and when
thev come down the river in the spring it is
with steady advan :. We fish with traps,
seines and nets. These are placed in the
water and arranged in such a way
as to entangle the advancing
fish. They get into the coils
so tightly thai they can't get out, and as
they won't go back they are drawn out by
the fishermen and canned for the great pub
lies benefit. The fishermen on the river
prefer muddy water, because the salmon is
very intelligent and gamey, and if they
could see the nets many of them would
avoid them. Traps and seireS are relied on
in the Columbia river to produce the best
results.
Fishing in Puget Sound is also glorious
sport. The water is so clear and transparent
that have often counted pebbles at depth
OF 25 feet when the light was shaded by the
boat. You can see the fish darling around in
the water, and once, when caught z, 900 fish
in one haul, the largest l ever made,
could see the salmon beneath me Is feet
deep. The water is peculiar in that it is
phosphorescent. When the light shines on
it it glistens like gold, and reminds one of
the glow of frewood at night. In the sound
we use the nets and seines exclusively.
They are fastened to skifs, and drawn
slowly through the water. 1 think there
are now about 40 canneries along the Co.
lumbia river, and they employ at least 2, 400
man -