A black-and white photograph of a group of men on a bank of the Columbia River. On the bank lies a fishing seine or net, which some of them are still hauling out of the water. Dark floats can be seen at the edges of the seine. In the water a few feet from the bank is a wooden rowboat. One of its oars is set so it sticks up vertically. At its stern is a haul of fish, which a man in a wide-brimmed hat and long white apron is touching. He is one of about ten men, all but one wearing hats or caps, who are lined up in the water and along the edge of the shore contemplating the catch or watching the photographer. Another man in apron and hat stands in the water at the prow of the ship, hands on hips. Across the wide river are forested hills.
A photographic postcard that has been hand-tinted. The legend in red at the top reads "Tonging for Toke Point Oysters, near mouth of the Columbia River". More than a dozen men are each standing a wooden boat. The boats are flattened in profile and ride low in the calm water. The central area of the boat is used to pile up the oysters, and the oystermen stand on a broad rim that runs around the edge. They hold long poles in their hands. These are the handles of tongs, long tools with rake-like ends that are opened when put into the water, scraped against the oysters, and closed to haul up the catch. The men are dressed in working clothes such as overalls and hats. In the background are several larger boats. On the horizon mountains are visible.