THE MORNING OREGOXIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1021
11.
M. 70 o 7"Ae Oregonian's "Know Oregon" Series.
The capture of this famous food fish in
Oregon waters and its preparation for table
uses constitutes an industry in which mil
lions of dollars are invested, which gives em
ployment directly and indirectly to 22,000
men and brines in revenues approximating
$10,000,000 annually.
The industry has had its ups and downs. At
times the supply of fish for packing has been
sadly depleted, but Oregon has developed methods of
artificial propagation which have restored the salmon
supply and put the industry on a stable foundation.
The latest biennial report of the hatcheries in the state of
Oregon states that during the preceding two years more than
50,000,000 Royal Chinook fingerhngs were liberated into the
various streams at the average age of 8 months.
In addition, there were nearly 40,000,000 young fish of less valuable varieties,
making an approximate total for the past two years of 90,000,000 fish.
Oregon, can also boast of possessing the largest fish
hatchery in the United States. This is the Bonneville
Hatchery, situated on the Columbia Highway, and is
one of the show places of the west. Here millions of
eggs are carefully kept and scientifically treated
through all the intricate stages of hatching, until the
time the young fish is about 8 months old, when it is
liberated into the streams with thousands of its
brethren, there to fight its own way in the world.
During its first year it migrates to the ocean, where
it will usually remain until its fourth or fifth year. At
the end of that time, the mature salmon, with an
unerring "homing" instinct, turns and heads up the
current and when it reaches the mouth of the river
into whose waters it was liberated, it swims into the
fresh water, and by easy stages migrates to the spawn
ing beds, where the cycle of its existence is repeated.
Altogether there are 18 fish hatcheries and stations
in Oregon!
GROWTH OF SALMON PACK
In 1910 there were only 10 canneries on the
Columbia River; in 1920 there were 20. We increased
in ten years to double the amount of canneries, which
is proof of our rapid strides in this great and important
industry.
1866 was the first year that Oregon commenced
salmon packing, and to show how great has been our
progress since then we quote the following figures:
Year No. of Cases Value
1866 4,000 $ 64,000.00
19107 391,415 2,544,198.00
1920 518,545 6,531,617.00
The foregoing figures include the annual catch of
fish from coastal streams, which are usually sold as
fresh fish, but are here represented by their equivalent
in packed fish.
Oregon's coastal streams, the Rogue, Umpqua, Coos
Siuslaw, Alsea, Yaquina, Siletz, Nestucca, Tillamook
and Nehalem Rivers, with a few lesser streams, pro
duce annually the equivalent of 100,000 cases of
canned salmon, worth approximately a million dollars.
Most of the catch from these streams is sold as fresh
fish and these are the sources from which Portland
markets get their daily supplies.
Owing to her wise protective legislation and her
work of propagation, Oregon is showing a constant
increase in the quantity of salmon which inhabit her
waters. Tlis is true of no other Pacific State.
Seventy per cent of all salmon caught in the
Columbia River are taken by Oregon fisheries.
Seven methods have been used to capture salmon.
These are the gill net, the troll, the set net, the trap,
the drag seine, the fish wheel and the purse seine.
The purse seine is not now allowed as it destroys the
young fish. Troll fishing is also discountenanced now.
Oregon spends approximately $20,000 a year for
wardens to police and protect the state fishing.
Oregon spent to maintain fish hatcheries in 1920
$106,901.57.
ONE OF WORLD'S FAMOUS FOOD PRODUCTS
Columbia River salmon, because of its quality and
full flavor, has continued to extend its fame into the
markets of the world. England is one of the largest
world markets for Columbia River salmon, and no
other American food product, perhaps, is so esteemed
as Columbia River salmon. It is one of the industries
that has helped to make Oregon known throughout
the world.
The fame of Oregon industries, such as salmon,
reflects itself on other products, either natural or
manufactured, the growth of which is measured by
the energy and ambition of the men who head these
industries.
Remember this :
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211
Other Subjects to Be Cov
ered in The Oregonian
"Know Oregon" Series
Pulp and paper.
Portland and its manufacturing
Portland, the jobbing center.
Portland, the railroad tenter.
Iron and other metals.
Tourists as a trade resource
and our climate and scenery.
-mt
L
The Industrial Reputation of Oregon Is the
Sum Total of the Reputation of Its
INDI VID UA L Industries I
j
By the BotsfordConstantine Company.