The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17

cound for the season of 1895 as compared
with former years indicate more plainly
than any words l might utter that the fish
ing industry in this important district is
receiving greatly increased attention each
year. Indeed, the growth of the salmon in
dustry here the past year has been almost
marvellous. Means have become known for
catching soclleye salmon, a species iden-
tical with the blueback of the Columbia,
which has been until quite recently consid-
cred impossible to do in the waters of the
Sound. The spawning grounds of this val
liable fish are at the headWaterS OF the
Fraser river, and it is the principal salmon
packed by the canneries of that river. Now
that it has been demonstrated that the
sockeye can be taken in the waters eur
rounding San Juan islands and IN the Gulf
Of Georgia, great efforts are being made to
secure locations for traps-the means by
which they are taken-and several new
canneries are to be erected. Our cousins
across the British line view with alarm the
evident determination OF our citizens to
profit by their newly acquired knowledge
concerning the sockeye, and some of the
most progressive cannerymen or BRUSH
Columbia have made arrangements to erect
canneries on this side Of the line. Some Of
the criticisms recently expressed by the
citizens of British Columbia on our laws
are quite amusing. Particularly do they
score the constitutional provision prohibit
ing the holding of real estate by aliens.
Our fishing laws also come in for fair
share of criticism.
1t Is my belief that during the next year
will be seen a much greater increase in the
salmon industry on the Sound than ever
before. Considerable excitement has been
produced during the past year in this Sec
ton Of the state on account OF the cod and
halibut fisheries of Alaska, which are trib
Utary to the Sound cities, and several COM
ranies are now in process of forming to
look after that business on an extensive
scale. If their enterprise proves q success,
and have no doubt it will, it will certain
ly be a valuable addition to the fishing in
GUstry Of the state. Following 1 give
brief summary Of the fish statistics for the
Puget sound district, incidentally stating
that the figures given are for the year end
ing November 1, and since then several, If
not all the companies mentioned, have in
creased their pack, and one cannery in
this district having during the entire sea-
son packed 0,000 cases of salmon, the larg-
est pack Of any cannery in either Oregon
or Washington. This was Myers & Co., Of
Seattle, which on November 1 had packed
$1,000 cases; Island Packing Company, Fri
day Harbor, 90 600 cases; Alaska Packers
Association, Blaine, 53,118 cases; National
Packing Company, Port Angeles, $4,000
cases. Besides which $27, 575 worth of SAL
erts and sold to canneries of British ColuDi-
bia. Fresh salmon sold value, S173 $3.50;
smoked, $1,000; sailed, $4,000. Of halibut
$4,000 worth was handled, $17,672. 80 worth
of Goldfish, $4,000 worth of small fish, such
as soles, tom cod and snelt. The estimated
value of trout taken for market is $1,000.
Oysters sold, 1852 sacks at $3.50 per sack,
$31,5S0 CLAIMS sold, 1909 sacks at 75c per
sack, $12,750; mussels sold, 1,5OO sacks at
81 per sack, $1,500; shrimps sold, 1870
pounds, value $762; herring sold, 1000 boxes.
value $1,000.
am pleased to state that a small sardine
cannery has been established, and is in OPP
Grafton at Port Townsend, and although the
pack was small, consisting of 120 cases of
100 cans each, the quality of the fish was ex-
cellent, and | can see no reason why the
sardine fisheries of the state should not
prove in time an important adjunct Of the
fishing industry. In conclusion L will say
that it is my fixed conviction that with
proper laws and particular attention given
to artificial propagation, the day is not far
distant when the fishing industry of the
state Of Washington will compare favorab-
ly, in renunerative results, with that of any
state in the Union.