The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-03-31
THE FISHERIES OF
WASHINGTON
LATEST CENSUS REPORT PLACES
STATE FOURTH IN VALUE i
OF PRODUCTS.
Total Catch Worth More Than Three
and ! Hall Millions-salmon Con-
tributes Greater Portion, but Value
Of HaIibut and Cod Fisheries Have
Increased Very Rapidly.

Washington, D. c., March 27.-The
State Of washington ranked fourth in
1908 in the extent of its fisheries. al
measured by the value of their prod
ucts. which amounted to q total .ol
s3,513, 900, according to the specia
census report on fisheries of the
United States, which will be submit
ted to the Secretary of the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor by Di
rector Durand of the Bureau of the
Census, for whom it was prepared by
William M Steuart, chief statisticiaI
for manufactures. Among the Pacific
Coast states, Washington ranked first
in this respect, both at the present
census and at the canvasses of 1893
and 1904, while at those Of 1888, 1892
and 1895 it stood second.
The fishing grounds of Washington
are divided into two districts, the Pa
cifc ocean district, which comprises
the Pacific ocean, Puget Sound and
other inlets and all rivers except the
Columbia flowing into the Pacific
ocean, and the Columbia river dis
trict.
The number of persons employed in
the fisheries of Washington in 1908
was 1854. The capital invested in
vessels and boats, outfits and appa-
ratus of capture amounted to $3,441,-
900.
Salmon is the principal product of
the Washington fisheries, both /. in
quantity and in value; the catch in
1908 amounting to 54,312,O0O pounds,
valued at s1,571,ooo.
Double in Growth in Ten Years.
Washington fisheries have shown a
steady growth, the value of their prod
ucts having more than quadrupled
during the twenty years between 1888
and 1908. The value of vessels and
boats has increased steadily since
1888.
Of the total capital invested in the
fisheries of Washington in 1908, 46
per cent, somewhat less than one
half, represented the value of vessels
of all classes, both fishing and trans
porting; the value of fishing vessels
alone forming 80 per cent, or not quite
two-fifths.
Next to the value of vessels that of
apparatus of capture was the largest
item, amounting to "a per cent, or
about one-third of the total capital in
vested. BY far the largest proportion,
IS per cent, or slightly more than
two-thirds of the capital employed in
the fisheries of the Columbia river,
represented apparatus of capture.
The vessels engaged in fishing in
1908 comprised IS steam and % sail
vessels, with combined tonnage of
1891, and II unrigged craft; the value
of all classes of vessels being 1885,
900. All the fishing vessels were
used in the Pacific ocean district and
none on the Columbia river. In addi-
ton to the vessels engaged in fishing,
many barges and scows were used
exclusively for transporting the catch.
The Capital Invested in Power Boats.
The number of power boats en-
ployed was 239 and their value $780,
900, as compared with So boats all
operated by gasoline and valued at
$44, 900 in 1904. OF the boats reported
in 1908 some 152, valued at $4,000,
were used on the Columbia river, and
81, valued at $4,000, in the other
waters of the state. In contrast to
this large increase in power boats
there was material decrease in the
number and value of other boats re-
ported, including both sail and row.
boats.
The amount invested in apparatus
of capture in 1908 was $1,162, 900, as
compared with $1,690.OO0 in 1904.
This large decrease was caused to q
great extent by the fact that gill nets
are taking the place of pound and
seine nets in salmon fishing. The in.
vestment in apparatus of capture is
nearly equal for the two fisheries dis.
tricts into which the state is divided.
the Pacific ocean district represent.
Ing $5S6,0O0 and the Columbia river
$576.OOO. The value Of the apparatus
employed by the shore and boat fish
cries. about $1,102,0O0, is greatly in
excess of that reported for vessel fish
cries. OF the latter amount $4,000.
or slightly more than Is per cent, rep
resented the value Of lines used for
the cod and halibut catch. While the
pound net is used more extensively
Tor salmon fisheries on Puget Sound,
the larger gill nets are found in the
Columbia river fisheries. Fish wheels.
OF which IL were reported in 1908,
We're in use only on the Columbia
river and their catch was confined to
salmon.