FISHERIES. As earl• as 1S50 fish were shipped from Washington, and since that date the growth in the industry has been very rapid. The period between 1892 and 1902 showed an especially ap preciable advancement, the value of the output in the former year being about $1.300.000, and in the latter about $0,700,000. The total amount invested in the industry in 1902 was $6.819.818, and there were between nine and ten thousand persons engaged in its pursuit. Salmon is the largest single product. the output in 1902 be ing valued at $3,889,185. The number of cases of salmon packed in 18011 was 4000, while in 1902 it was about 770.000. The canning and packing of fish ranks third among the industries of the State. Its growth during the period of 1890-1900 is indicated by the following table: The establishment and rapid advance of this industry, bringing with it new methods of catch ing the fish, has greatly diminished the foritter plentiful supply. To remedy this condition, fish hatcheries have from time to tinie been estab lished, until in 1900 there were fourteen in opera at ion. The exportation of fish in comparison with its output is very small, being valued in the fiscal year of 1901 at $354,221, over two-thirds of which sum was represented by salmon.
...\ontm.TurtE. In 1900, 8,499,297 acres, o• 19.9 per vent. of the total area, were included in farms. The total ocrea!re more than doubled in the decade 1890-1900 and the area of improved land, 3,405.900 acres, almost doubled in the same period. The recent enlargement of ranges by the incorporation of parts of the public do main has resulted in a continuous increase in the at•ernge size of farms since 1870, the average in 1900 being 250 The agricultural area of Washington is greatly limited by the exten sive mountainous and arid districts. In the western port the rainfall is very ample and the valley between the Cascade and Coast ranges is highly favored for cultivation. In central Wash
ington the rainfall is insufficient for crops, but toward the eastern border it bet-mites heavier and extensive farming operations are carried on without the aid of irrigation. The depth of the channels of the large streams prevents the use of their almmlant waters for irrigation. The principal region in vl Pt irrigation is pos sible is the Vakima Miser The greater part of the irrigated area of the State is watered front the Yakima and its tributaries. The total crop area irrigated in 1900 wee!s 117,798 acres. Alfalfa, clover, and other grasses and vegetables and fruit are the chief crops irrigated. Over half of the total crop area of the State is in wheat. Wheat production is greatest in eastern Wash ington, 1Valla Walla and Spokane being in the regions of heaviest production. The crop is grown almost wholly without irrigation. The soil is exceedingly fertile and a very high per acreage yield is obtained from wheat, as also from other crops. Barley and oats are the only other cereals of importance. The region is not adapted for corn. Hay and forage rank second in area and value. Potatoes are a favorite crap, and sugar-beet culture has developed in Spokane County. In Yakima, Pierce, and some other counties hops area valuable crop. most re markable agricultural development between 1890 and 1900 was in fruit culture. The number of apple trees in 1900 (2.735.824) was nearly 9 times as great as in 1890 and the number of plum and prime trees (1,290,845) was more than 15 times as great. The southeastern counties lead in fruit raising. The alluvium soil at the mouths of the tributary streams to the Walla Walla are pe euliarly adapted to the cultivation of orchard fruits. The following table shows the acreage of the leading crops in the census years indicated: