czi
TVi- WoalrW A'Qtnria-n ith the comPletion of the railwy the
111-YV eeKiy Ja-blUlldJl fnarkct was extended, not only for pick
led but also for freshSalmon. JBy packing
ASTORIA, OREGON:
I. C. IRETiAWD Editor.
ASTORIA Not. 29, 1S73
THE COLUMBIA ItXVEIt SALMON
FISHERIES.
"Written for tlio Tri-Weekly Astorian,
"Washington Iryixg, in his much read
" Astoria," related the manner of taking
the Salmon of the Columbia river by the
natives, before the devices of civilization
and science encroached upon the pristine
method. At that time many Indians lived
along the river subsisting mainly upon
the fibh, taken from its clear waters, and
exchanging their surplus catches with in
terior tribes for hides and land game.
"When the Pioneers came upon the river
the3r secured and preserved the iish for
their own use, but as the settlers became
more numerous, and commerce began to
grow, the new comers likewise' engaged in
the traffic of the Salmon, until now the
catch amounts to about one million dollars
in coin per year.
The Cu&tom-houbC records at Astoria
fahow that there were shipped from the Co
lumbia river during the year ending Octo
ber 31st, 1873, the following amounts of
Salmen:
To Liverpool, 3,000 cases and 200 kits;
To China, 1,500 cases and 63 barrels;
To iMelbourne, Austria, 475 ca&es;
To Honolulu, 20 cwt.smoked, 1,512 bar
rels, 2G7 half barrels, 30 quarter barrels,
151 kits and 77 casas;
To Port Townsend, 2S7 packages, and
20 kits;
To San Francisco, 6S,S90 cases, 7,961
packages, 1S9 tierces, 2,79S barrels, 1,73S
half barrels, 119 quarter barrels and 101
kits;
Amounting in value to about 700,000.
The quantity and manner of curing of
the packages are unknown, but the cases
are of canned, and the barrels, kits, etc.,
of pickled or salted Salmon. This state
ment does not include all that has been
carried to Kea from the river, because some
of the sailing coast vessels do not report
at the Custom-house. There is not inclu
ded the amounts also consumed hy the
States and Territories bordering on the
river, so mat we uiniK me numoer laicen
during the past reason can safely be esti
mated at 500,000, of a value of 1,000,000.
The Columbia river Salmon are said to
be the best on this coast. In the waters
north of here are fabulous quantities of
plump fish, but they are considered less
finely tiavo red, though few, perhaps, could
distinguish them apart on the table. The
iih here average twelve pounds each, net,
but of the numbers there is no counting
them. In April they enter the river, and
continue to do so until August, pushing
their way up stream, leaping rapids and
floundering on shoals to the head waters . they
of the Columbia, and its tributaries.
Though many persons think the supply
inexhaustible, the history of depleted riv
ers on the Atlantic coast, any the present
scarcity of the fish in the Sacramento, ad
monish us to not rest too confidently in
the opinion of the many, but to encourage
the growth of the fi-h in our river. Many
fish destroy themselves, trying to leap the
rapids on their voTage to the spawning
grounds. It has been ascertained, b' ac
tual experiment, that the Salmon, after j
entering and living for a season in the
ocean, return to the same streams in which
they began life. The greater then, the
number produced in any stream, the great
er will be the ' run" in the future fishing
seasons. There should, wherever practi
cable be placed fish ladders or other means
by which the transit of the fish over the
Jalln of the rivers would be facilitated.
There is one place deserving of especial
attention, the "Wallamet falls. Over them
the lish seidoin leap, yet above them are
in ice the fish can be taken by the car load
from the Sacramento to New York fresh,
where they being as high as one dollar
per pound. It will be years before the
culture of the Salmon in the Atlantic slope
can limit the market there, notwithstand
ing the large sums of money being expend
ed in its behalf. Put preserving the fish
in cans, as meats and vegetables are pre
served, opened the whole world as a mar
ket. "When the canning was commenced
on the Columbia river five years since, it
was difficult to effect sales of fish so pre
served. Purchasers had to be solicited,
and consumers made acquainted, with the
novelty. This 3Tear, however, orders were
received from Europe before the first fish
could be taken, one firm having an order
ahead for 15,000 cases. All the fisheries
have been able to realize, as fast as the Sal
mon could be placed on board ship, and
no longer will canners have to beg of the
people to taste an unknown dish.
Catching the fish on the upper Columbia
was formerly done by half-naked savages,
standing on the rocks or temporary scaf
folding, over rapids and shoals, and spear
ing the fish as they appeared near the
surface to leap the falls, or floundered in
the rocks. On the lower Columbia the
fish were drawn ashore by rude seines. At
Chinook point (opposite Astoria), the shore
is a shelving bank of sand, three or four
miles long, on which the fishermen were
wont to haul the seines. The Anglo-Saxons
soon availed themselves of this fine
fishing grounds. The fish taken at this
point were called u Chinook Salmon," in
contra-distinction to those taken at the
falls and stood better in market. There
not being many places along the banks of
the river sufficiently sloping for the drag
ging of seines another net was brought in
to requisition called the gill net. The
meshes of this net are of such size as to ad
mit the head of the fish sufficiently to en
tangle and hold it fast by the gills. The nets
are about two fathom wide with sinkers on
one edge and small buoys on the other,
which cause them to float perpendicularly
when stretched in the stream. They vary
in length from one hundred to three hun
dred fathoms. Two men with a boat at
tend each net. The net is extended across
the channel and allowed to float down with
the tide while the boat passes backhand
forth along the line of buoys watching for
fish and keeping the net aright.
The fish, a-cending the river, thrusts its
head through the meshes of the decending
net and becoming entangled disturb the
buoys over it which immediately sum
mons the men in the boat, who coming to
the spot lift that portion of the net, strike
the fish a blow on the head, cast it into
their boat and drop again the net. Thus
they work till the boat is full of fish or
have drifted the proper distance
when they take the net into the boat and
go back to the fishery. Two men will
sometimes catch three hundred fish in one
niirht.
nio-ht so the fish cannot see the nets, but
many were caught last reason during the
da3T in cloudy weather.
Packing at first was done by the fisher
men, who would make their nets, boats
and barrels through, the Autumn and
has increased in profit and in magnitude
the past year, and next season there will
be double the facilities for preserving fish
judging from present preparations. Eight
canning establishments were in operation
this last season. Now six more are being
erected and additions made to the old ones.
Last season but one steam tender was
owned by the fisheries, next year there
will be three, two small steam boats hav
ing been recently purchased for that pur
pose. These boats will be used to bring
the fish from the different " drifts" to the
cannery and in transporting their own
freight generally. Cases of canned sal
mon ready for market are estimated to
cost five dollars each, while they sell at
home for seven to eight dollars, and are
now quoted in the Australian market at
bixteen dollars per case. Three of the
fisheries this season put up about fifteen
thousand cases each, clearing doubtless
thirty thousand dollars apiece. The out
lay for fixtures is chiefly for boats nets,
and machinery for manufacturing the cans
Aside from what wharfing may be neces
sary, the buildings are cheap. A loca
tion is generally chosen where the chan
nel approaches near the shore so as to ren
der much wharfing unnecessary. The
principal article of import used is tin
which is brought in- the block and manu
factured into cans at the fishery. The
cases are bought read5, made of our Ore
gon box manufactories by all the fisheries
we beleive, except "Westport. In connec
tion with that one is a saw mill which
furnishes the lumber and it makes its own
boxes and barrels. The heads and trim-
in ga of the fish were thrown away by all
till the lastseason, when J. "West of "West
port utilized the heads by extracting the
oil from them which proved to be a profit
able experiment. It is to be hoped that
more will do likewise hereafter.
Labor is generally performed by white
men.though troubles incident to that kind
of labor have caused one or two establish
ments to employ chinamen to do the in
door work. The fisheries are in isolated
places where new hands cannot be secured
in a moment. During the fishing season
not a moment should be lost, as the fish
should be preserved on the same day they
are brought in. Looses have occurred by
the laborers getting liquor and disqualify
ing themselves for labor for several days
and suspending the work. Isolated loca
tions are chosen with an eye to being re
moved frflfn temptation. All the princi
pal fisheries on the lower Columbia are
within forty miles of Astoria.
Au Inspector of Salmon was formerly
appointed by the State but as he could not
visit the different fisheries when needed he
was obliged to trust much to the honesty
of the packers, and the office was soon
abolished. Now each firm puts its indi
vidual brand upon the packages sent out
and stand.-, or falls by its reputation.
A few fi.-h are caught in traps formed of
stakes driven in the bottom near shore.
The principal danger encountred with the
drift nets is the Seal which pursues and
preys upon the Salmon. They get into
the nets sometimes and beiiiff strong do
though when
NE"W ADVERTISEMENTS.
AlCTIONEERS.
GO0DS FOR THE SEASON
Great REDUCTION in Prices ! i
Selling Less tkanCost
A. B. KiqHARDSON S. I.. OlE3M3r.
A. B. Richardson,
AUCTIONEER Corner of Front and Onk steu
Portland, Oregon. Auction Sales of Keal
E?t:ito, Groceries, General Merchandise aid
Horsos. Sales Wednesday and Saturday.
THE MTIRE -STOCK!
OP GOODS
AT THE STORE OF THE LATE GEORGE
SUMMERS deceased, Astoria Oregon.
HAS TO BE SOLD;
And in order to settle up the affairs of the es
tate, the undesigned, administrator, is now
offering the entire line, embracing a very de
sirable quality of goods at prices below actual
cost.
'WST Call and Examine for Yoursclves.1H
5rLnnjo assortment of Grooerios, Liquors,
etc., at Frivato Salo. Liberal advances mado
on consignments. A. B. 1UCH ARDSON
Charles S- Wright,
AUCTIONEER Cor of Main a$id Chenaimw
Street5, Astoria. Goods received on consign
ment and sold to-the highest bidder.
Oscar Kilbourn,
AUCTIONEER Offico 40 First st., Portland.
MISCELLANEOUS.
JT5TA11 persons having bill? against the es
tate will pleaso present the same, with proper
vouchers for payment. And all persons owing
the estate will please come forward and settle,
or make arrangements to settle the same, and
save costs. C. S. WRIGHT,
n2fltf Administrator.
Fancy Poultry I Sale,
THE UXDERSrCrXED, ABOUT TO RE
movc from Astoria, offers his stock of fan
cy Poultry for sale, at the following reduced
prices:
Silver Spangled Hamburgs S7 50 per pair
Buff Cochins 5 00 "
Light Brahmas 5 00 "
Duck-Wing Game 3 00 "
ndAll Chickens are warranted to bo Pure
blooded. A. J. MEGLER,
n2itf Astoria, Oregon.
FARM FOR SALE.
THE DONATION LAND CLAIM of ALVA
COND1T, on Clatsop Plains,
One of the Einet Situated places in Clat
sop County,
Consisting of Six Hundred and Forty Acros,
nearly all under fence, with a nice Orchard,
together with Stock, Plows, and other Agri
cultural Implements, including a new Wagon,
team of Horses, harness, etc., is now offered
for salo on very favorable terms, For particu
lars, address, ALVA COND1T,
n'2( 2m Skipanon, Clatsop Co., Ogn.
Paul ScJioen,
REPAIRER
TUNER & REGULATOR.
Prom the LTouse of Matthias Gray,
023 and 025 Clay street, San Francisco, Cal.,
and Odd Fellow's Temple, Portland.
mWR DXTT.V TTTNTF-T? AVTTTT OXE "RYfTRP-
! JL tion, to whom Mr. Gray has over given a
rittcn recommendation.
J. WM. WELCH. FRANK HOBSOX,
JAMES W. WELCH & Co.
TEAMSTERS.
Office at J. "V. Gearliart'b Store, Astoria.
,RDERS LEFT WITH MR. GEARIIART
for any kind of learning, will be promptly
attended to. ood of all kinds constantly on
hand. Orders solicited. oc4tf"
To Let.
THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY, belong
ing to the estate of A. Crosby deceased, is
fur rent. 1 or particulars apply to
11. S. AIKEN, Administrator
Astoria, Nov. 20th, lhT.Mf of said Estate.
George A. Pease,
Pacific Boot and Shoo Storev
Is now prepared to wait on his cusKTfcgycy
At The Old Stand Again I
S. W. Corner First and Morrison Si&ete,
Portland, Oregon.
OREGON ROOT AND
SHOE
stere:
S. M. BARR,
BAJtJl
J. Cv KEJOSMJY.
KINGSLEY,
PRINCIPAL RETAILERS OF THE STA
plo brands of Eastern, California and Oro
gon Roots and Shoos, No. 135 First street cor
ner Yamhill, Portland Oregon.
R3F With our long oxporionco and small ex
pense wo are enabled to sell choapor than any
othor house in tho city of Portland. Ab tho
proverb goes SI 00 saved is $2 UO made-: Call
and see and givo U3 your trade.
i3in & ivi-LitrouXii.
S. G-. Skidmore,
Druggist and Apothecary,
Has Removed to his
NEW AND ELEGANT STORE,
111 First st., next to L. C. Henrichson's,
Portland, Oregon. au7
AST Mr. Schoen will soon visit Astoria, and
orders left at tho Astoriax Office will bo
promptly attended to. n28tf
B
.-.... n. !-.... rlnmorrn thrilKrh W inn Pfm
it -r .-a: n ,1 i uiyn; ui b umuugb. w.vi... ........ w..
--.uniting" is geiimny "" M tured compensate somewhat in oil for the
harm done.
It might be well to mention another
species ol fish called the fall Salmon which
enter the small creeks near the ocean in
October and are much better for leing
dried and smoked than the spring Salmon
as they have less fat. Large quantities
are taken from the creek, at the Seaside
Winter, ana mn aurmg uicmuui oiu- . , fl t f thc 0Cean.
them in large tanks till the SfivGrnl nerons are there now engaged in
saltinsr and smoking them. With a
When the first canning establishment
miles and miles of pebbly streams favoia-
ble for the preservation and hatching of for three hundred dollars, or
the .pavn o. these fish. Besides increas- skarcs, is all the outht needed.
ing the quantity of fish, enabling them to !
a-cend the Wallamet would aftbrd the
people of the valley the opportunity of
getting the fish fresh from the water. Sal
mon taken near the sea are the "best, but
for immediate consumption, transporta
tion in the .water is better than any other,
and the fi.-h taken from the river t
Eugene would be preferable to those car
rivd trom Chinook by boat and rail to the
same place.
The catch next year, if the "run" should
be us gooc? as the last, will reach uear one
million fish, and the business increasing
one hundred percent. Immense, indeed,
5 the supply tfct cannot bo exhausted at
that rate. If there Aould be fish enough
thcbiMne of- prerving-thom will con
tinue to increao jo h
.iui THn TnrL-t for
mon, salting them in
rush was over when they would transfer
thair catch to barrels. With the preser
vation of the fish in hermetically sealed
cans began a great improvement in the !
business. Thc canneries also prepare out
side of the fish season, for packing, but
their consumption oi nsii :s so sreiiL anu t
rapid that they
in addition to
paying tfom twentjMive to unity cents i that the DreParations are so far com-
per fish. This furnishes an opportunity plefr.d that the first lecture of the
for fishermen (strictly speaking) to ply series may be expected on the even-
. their avocation. A boat and net, bought in? ot canesaay, Jjecemuer lum,
Mnall seine two men drag out one and two
hundred tine fish at each haul. Q.
Rev. Thomas Condon State Ge
ologist, has been requested to prepare
a series of lectures, beginning with
y purchase fresh fish largely 1 the most simple truths of science and
, 4. n t l covenner the whole range oi geologi-
what their own men take, , cal n(iry. and we rc informed
BEATS MUSIC STORE !
"k.
I H1H
w . C3 fei c
B 1B1H MiW rj ,o kj
I1PI
B.AJB WfflT&iU' & k
mrm gsmim r h x
I liriSli ; -
M msMim - l
rented on
in Portland.
Xkw ScnooL Books. I have just re
ceived all the different kinds of New School
horran rmfirntinor nn tho rivfti thft maimer
of nKrvinfl. th flh Ws said to be a se- i Books required to be used in this State, that
G. JL. DePRANS, Maiiagcr,
Odd Fellows' Temple, Portland,
siotf
G.e.
'ificac
cret of great depth, and marvellous stories
were circulated to the effect that the man
who possessed the mysterious knowledge,
plied his art within the closed brick walls
I of a boiling room, so full ot heat and
steam that few could live within. J3y
some means however others became fa
miliar with the mystery, or supposed thejT
were, and another cannery started, but
something was lacking, the charm did
not work, fish spoiled and several thousand
dollars were lost. But in time others auc
Cficded and now there seems to be but lit
tle secresy about it, no more than in can-
! ning peaches or tomatoes. The fish are
g ft" thfl mirkt cut into pieces corresponding to the size of ac
.-picWi Salmon thc can, and packed in raw, with a little to
TTiRAXK FAPRE, at tho Contral Market,
T Portland, has enlarged his UUtfPEE stall,
and added sueh improvements as will enable
him to provide Epicures with the best in tho
Market. 1'arties furnished with Mot Coffee on
can now be found in San Francisco. Also, j stand a trial oeltf
j Slate pencils, Blotting pads, a good as
sortment of Stationery, Drawing paper,
H. Trenkmann,
LACKSMITII AND TOOL MAKEE and
manufacturer of of all kinds of
Plaining, Moulding, and Turning Tools,
Saws of all kinds Straightonod and Ropaired,
and nil kinds of daw Teeth made and repaired
and saws tuined and straightened. Orders at
tended to promptly. II. TKEN KMAjStN,
aulfctf 40 Front st, Portland,
THE ONLY
ManufacturingHouse
TS OREGON.
Fishel & Koberts,
Corner First and "Washington Streets,
PORTLAND, OREGON.
FASHMABLI CLOTHIERS,
AO MANUFACTURERS.
THE BEST VALUE
FOR THE LEAST MONEY.
CARD BOARD, Perforated board, Ink,
(Carmine, Purple and Black). Likewise a
new stock of Crockery, Clocks and a large
assortment of Lamp Chimneys, all of
which will be sold cheap for cash.
I. V. CASE.
hefom tho continent! rail-
Pkrsoxal. Tho undersigned htindor many
obligations to the man who broke into his farm
house, and took the locks from all the doors,
and carried away othor articles from the prem
isesthat ho did not take tho windows and
doors alo, and burn the balance of the house.
1 like to be neighborly, and if it would be an
accommodation to the person havinj? the lock
have the keys alo, he can cull on mo Vnd
A. Burchard,
Doalor in
New and Second-hand Furniture
Spring, Hair, Feather,
Aloss, "Wool, and Pulu Beds,
Blankets, Spreads, Sheets,
Pillows, Pillow Cases, etc.
Price Paid for
FURNITURE!
(Skidmore's Building,)
Corner of Piret and Taylor Streets,
Portland, Oregon. 10
brine, hen the can is partly sealed and b accommodated; and if he decree to take
ennnpd.
trn. .chU-fly. te Honolulu and howe de- J pk.ced into a cau'.dion of boiling water till the windows and doors, and will let me norr
mm. Th'.fi would not tr Jtfpnont i the frh i. cooked. " ' I Stt .taiSl" 5"
thiouli ike tropics oa loa j Tftyaj, but Tb buiuea, particularly tho canning, :it T.I.Powjm.
FRANK J. TAYLOB,
ATTORNEY-A T-LATV,
ASTORIA, OREGON.
Office Brown' Buildhiir. Spiml;aiUifc
riven to the iamiuati6tf'f titled awLtkt ee
t.ctiju of debt. Hf
Willamet Iron Works
Incorporated Sept. 14, 18G5.
Cor. North Front and E sts., Portland.
P. FITTBOUEN, I PETER TAYLOR,
Secretary. I President.
IROH AND BRASS FQIHS, BOILER MUERS,
General Machinists, and
ENGINE BUILDERS,
MANUFACTURE and HAVE FOR SALE
Iligh and Lovr Procure Marina acd Sta
tionofc Engines nnd Boiler; Saw Milla, Grit
Mills, Quartz. Mining, and Agricultural Ma
chinery, UATEK V HEELS of several pat
terns, equal to any imported, on hand and
made to order, of any me. REPAIRING of
Machinery and Boilers promptly attended to,
and executed with neatness and dispatck. The
largest and BE8T STOCK OF PATTERN
north of San Franci'co. No ehar for tka uw
of them. Agent? for KNOWLEiJ' PATENT
STEAM PI'MlNthebertinuie. Als$, AienJ
for the AMMON1ACAL PKKPARATJON for
tke romoval of Boiler Feato, DttGantT's Oa
KAMVfT.u. tKo.t FkV'K. a raiiety f batHkl
patterus'for Cemeteries, te. Ileus Castiafi.
te.. ?tc; J AMKiJ LOTAN.
stf 8prMrtiPi