Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-06-02
CANNING SALMON.
THE WAY IT'S DONE On TIL.
PACIFIC COAST.
Catching the Fish and Preparing
Them for Market-An Cccup~
zion That II Assuming
Great Proportions


| become . table delicscv
- throughout the civilized world,
ret few persons have any idea
how it is prepared for market. Last
season there was a total packing on
the Pacific Coast OF about 200, 900
cases, weighing about 81 600, 900
pounds, or 40, 500 tons. according to
a correspondent writing from Port
land, Ore, to the St. Louis Globe
Democrat This seems an enormous
quantity Of tisn. vet it is but little
more than pound to each inhabitant
Of the United States, or TO each FIVE
possible consumers IN Europe and
America.
The methods of taking salmon in
the Columbia fFe varied and some of
them unique. v There are gill netr,
seinef, traps and wheels. Ten years
ago 800 boats captured twice as many
fish as were taken this year with 1864
boats, 3I traps, seventeen seines and
twenty-seven wheels. Nets are used
chiefly near the mouth Of the river,
though more or less in use for 80
miles inland and on the Willatflette as
we'll. 4 fishing outtit consists Of a
I'll 20
worth 5000, besides other accessories.
and requires two men to handle it.
This makes the average wages Of the
1928 fishermen only $500 for the sea.
son. They are chiefly Scandinavians,
Firms and Italians, hardy, reckless
men. who earn every cent they receive.
As the fishing season varies consider
ably on the different streams, many of
them go from place to place. 1t is a
/ grand sight on a clear, breezy morn
ing at Astoria, to see nearly thousand
boats speckling the broad estuary oi
the Columbia with their spread sails
The men usually go out SO as to fsl
on the incoming tide, often remaining
out all night. Not only is their occu
patton a cold and cheeriess one. with
none too good returns financially, but
it is exceedingly dangerous as carried
on at the mouth OF. the river Fifty
four were drowned last season, a NOR
tallty OF two per cent. In their eager
ness to get the first chance at the fish
they approach too close to tne break
ers on tue bar and are capsizel o,
their boat is overturned by q sudden
squall.
| Fish traps nre ''coqtray;ions'% o
piling and netting, so arranged A. I.
take advantage of the salrn on S inst nc
TO go mp stream and impound him
He is led by converging runway into
an ante chamber called "ihe heart,
from its resemblance to that essentis
organ OF the human body. From thi,
he finds his way through marrow
tunnel into ",he well, where he re
mains until taken out These trap
are all located in Bakers Bay, on tn
Washington side OF the Columbia, ,
wide body Of shallow water separated
from the main stream by long islam,
OF sand. A few years ago these wer'
| frst introduced, and now there ar,
475 OF them, each paying license I.
the State Of Washington OF SO year
Seines are used In few places 10 shall
low portions OF the stream. One ems
is carried TO It's full length on; int.
the stream with s boat anil Is the1
circled down the river aud inward
until the water ls shallow enough
when a horse IS ltcaei tu IL. and J: j
dragged with is hoppinS conie1.
upon the banks.
Fish ~aee.s are .ne latest pr.oiuc, {
inventive genius ID Ii catching {
salmon on the CoIuta nr. ani are opl
an amplificasion % the method use
bv Indians for many years be.o-. tn
white man set foo: on O.--oa so.
For nearly I've miles. a: q poias /.
miles inland. the Co.un biz Is 4 na-ro'
and turbulent stream. confined b