The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-29

results IN prosperous fishing hamlets being
supported 10 = great extent BY sardiue
canning alone
Deep-sea fishing off the bar OF the VIII
lara harhor Is one Of the growing and
most promising industries in which the
peopla OF South Bend are interested. a
syndicate OF business men has been formed
and the schooner Lady George. with a
crew % men who are adopts n the bust
ness OF haiibut fishing. is nov engaged IN
bringing into market the halIout found in
great quantities on the banks outside the
bar. The fishermen on the bay claim that
in this particular line Of industry they
have greatly the advantage Of others en-
eags5 in the same trade. as the distance
from the point Of shipment to the hal.0ut
banks Il much Jess than elsewhere, and in
consequence the fish can be sent 10 market
IN a shorter time and in better condition
than # Is possible for others who have a
longer distance 10 20 before the final ship
Tnent is made. Hali5ut is shipped fresh
70 San Francisco and other more local
markets and the business has been found
a profitable one.
The oyster Industry.
In the past the oyster business on VII
lapa hay and in the tributary streams. and
particularly on the Palux river. on which
is situated Bay Center. whose population
OF 200 is entirely supported by this indus
try. has been confined to selling sacks OF
fresh Sound oysters 20 the local markets
In the near future, however, the Eastern
oyster, which is found 70 thrive in the
oyster beds In the vicinity OF South Bend,
will become an important feature in the
oyster ng business, and when once success
fully inaug rated the extent to which il
may be- carried can only be figured by con-
sdering the unlimited market fhat VIII De
opened up west Of the Rocky mountains
Many thousands OF dollars are paid oet
each month in the state OF Washington
alone for Eastern oysters, and IL is now
probable that this money VIII be kept at
home and the material prosperity OF the
state increased 10 that extent
The first experiment OF planting oysters
from Chesapeake hey on the shores OF
WiIlspa harbor was not entirely success
full. but the fact was demonstrated beyond
q doubt that the Eastern oyster when
properly planted and cared for VIII thrive
In the waters Of Washington as well as in
Massachusetts,. The United States fish
Commissioner several years ago caused 70
be planted near Bay Center dozen barrels
of Eastern oysters for an experiment. The
mistake was made in putting them in the
artificial beds on the shore where the tide
at times left them bare. and consequently
retarded their increase and development.
Even under these circumstances a few
oysters, which happened TO he planted near
thrived and propagated and the fishermen
now frequently find near these beds 0cca-
si0nai big fat Eastern oysters, the de-
scendants Of the first Eastern oysters
planted IN the Northwest.
The natural oyster found in the waters
of Willapa harbor is smaller than It's
brother. the Olympia oyster found in the
beds on the Sound. The oystermen, how
ever, claim for il the advantage Of a high
er flavor. The natural beds of the lusci-
Gus little hivalve on the Willapa cover
several thousand acres of tide flats
though anything ike a correct estimate
cannot be made. no survey has ever
been ordered. and in fact the oystermen
have rather discouraged the sale of these
lands or any action having d tendency in
that direction, for the reason that the
natural beds have net been cultivated to a
sufficient extent to be Claimed as artificial
as can be done by the oystermen on the
Sound. The planted or artificial beds Of
Pacific county also consist OF several thou
sand acres, but as these are supplied from
the natural beds the interests of the two
are nearly Identical
a fine fleet of fishing sloops employed in
the oystering trade can he seen at any
time in the proper season sailing on WI
lapa bay. Among the fleet are: The Co.
lumbia, owned by Representative A s
Bush * Sons; the Sailor Boy, by William
Mills: the Pearl, by q. W Brown: the
Bonita, by John Riddell; the Mary NJ, by
J. p. Goodpasture. and the Lena, by
Charles Fisher.
Bay Center, on the Palux river, and
Oysterville, a few miles west and nearer
the coast. are two OF the principal centers
OF the Clustering industry on Willapa har-