The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-27
The Fisheries of Alaska.

Tie Sitka correspondent of the New York Tri-
| bunc, writes under date of November 2:
New England has hitherto had the almost eXclu-
siye control of the fishing interests OF the country.
| Every Massachusetts man knows well that it is 4
source of income of no trivial Importance. Prior to
the settlement of California, the New Bedford
| whulcmon had discovered that the waters of the
| Northern Paclfic-and especially that the vicinity
OF the Aleutian OF Western Islands OF ALASKA
we're the habitat-the favorite home of the genu-
inc cod, equaling in size, flavor, and abundance,
the far-famed Newfoundland species of this fish.
In truth, the two are so nearly identical III taste
that the Nantucket sailors the best OF judges
claim that they cannot be distinguished.
For several seasons there has been an increasing
number OF vessels from San Francisco and Van
couver visiting the coast OF Ounalaska and the
adjacent islands, where there is 4 series OF banks,
from $50 to 400 feet in depth, swarming with what
Hawthorne calls '' the sturdy, awkward fish which
never deludes the angler" Ihir success has only
been partial, for the Russians have never allowed
any foreign vessels to land and cur1 fish on the
coast. The season for drying them is from April
to the middle Of October. Now that the seatar-
ing men Of this coast have opened to them the
needed facilities on shore for drying and packing,
the business will become remuneratlve and stable.
The market for dried fish at the East has always
been certain. When developed it cannot be less
so on the Pacific. Compared with mining, it af-
fords q far more certain and trustworthy profit.
Nor are the waters Astounding with the cod
limited to the region Of 0unalaska. Seven hum
dred miles further west, at Attoo-the most re-
mote of our newly purcha led ~islands-Captain
K%entzol, as well as all Russian authorities, reports
the cod as readily caught as upon any part Of the
coast. The fishing ground is unlimited; and while
this field OF productive industry has not the ex-
element and rapid growth which sometimes at
tends the development of the mining wealth of
the country. vet is free from the ruinous reverses
which so often overwhelm the latter. The wide
network of channels, sounds, and straits which
surround the Sitka, or eastern group OF islands
are,% singularly enough, entirely destitute of cod,
but thor absence Is fully compensated for by the
great abundance Of salmon and halibut, OF which
these waters are extremely prolific. There arc
four distinct species of salmon. the most numc-
rous OF which have the plumpness, small head and
red flesh of the genuine 'Kennebec," so much
priced by the gourmands Of Boston aud New York.
At The dam Of the artificial ice pond, at the head
of Redutzky Lake, two thousand barrels can be
caught at each spring rum" although the stream
is O comparatively shallow one. At the mouth OF
the Stickeen they are taken weighing from thirty
to fifty pounds, and in all the mainland'thc island
streams-eyen the smaller c~reeks-they arc found
In quantities which, II stated at the East, would at
once be pronounced q fish story" They form
the staple article OF food with the native tribes on
this coast, who are aSle to take them with tho
rudest contrivances. Enter the huts of any Indian
village, even in October, when they are reputed
scarce, and you will find thickly suspended over
head long rows Of red salmon III the process OF
dryiI~ and smoking. Last week saw two natives
return with ono hundred and seven as the result
Of the days work.
Tho halibut has, q well-known value on The
Pacific coast, and is II, a"ded as equal, if not SUI
perior, to those found n -.thc Atlantic market.
There is no part Of the world where they arc so
abundant as among the waters surrounding these
islands. They can be caught at all seasons. From
Chatham Straits, thirty miles above here, tfre In
dams bring them in weighing $50 pounds. II is
amusing To see with what d~extcrity a Koloosh wifi
take che OF these unwieldy fellows into his canoe.
A landsman would overturn his skitf III attempting
to bag" ono OF fifty pounds; but L have seen q na-
tive hook one Of three times that weight, break
its neck as it emerged from the water, aud slide it
as readily over the stern of his canoe rs if it were
a common founder. There can be no doubt that
at some future time probably not many years
the catching and curing OF hallbut will become a
regular business in Eastern Alaska.
Unjust not omit to mention the existence and
peculiaritics OF another tish-one not mentioned
III the ''books"-which is found in great numbers
in the coast rivers, from the Mass to the Stickeen.
1t is spoken OF as the 'oolikon" by the Hudson
Bay Company, but is generally known as the
'sinall fish," or "candlc fish, among the coasters.
1t appears annually about the first week in May,
and Mr.. Ainsley, the pilot Of the JohnL. Stephens,
says that on some days he has known 1t difficult to
row 4 boat across the mouth of the Mass River on
account of the dense mass of these fish IN the
water. Sometimes an adverse tide or heavy winds
lodges tons OF them upon the shore, The Indians
know of their arrival by the fight of the birds
northward. They seldom continue over fifteen
days, and during this time the natives from Fort
Simpson and all the adjacent regions hasten to
''tho feast of fat things" This fish is six to eight
inches long, in form resembles the smelt, has Il
shining and almost transparent appearance, and
of all the fnny tribes is the most fat. Its fat
has not the oily, rancid taste of other fish, but has
the sweet taste of fresh lard. Tho Indians store
great quantities of it, and if well cared for it re-
mains sweet for months. When they are dried
the Indians often turn item to n novel and pract:-
cal account burn them in place of candles. They
give q clear, brilliant light, and are not liable TO
be blown out by the wind. Mr.. Manson, the Su-
perintondent at Fort Simpson, says that the tail
should be lighted instead of the head, and that
each fish will last about fifteen minutes. In q
dark night the men who took natives for guides
used to reckon a mile OF travel for every five fish
burned.
Another lusus na'urd Of the ALASKA coast is the
mammoth crab. found in the waters of Cooks
Iulot, and Prince Williams Sound. We're 1t not
well authenticated one would hardly credit its size.
1t measures full six feet from tip TO tip Of its
claws. Captain Lemanahefsky of the Alexandria,
caught eight of them, and found that no could put
the bodies OF only three in q barrel. The legs are
about tho size of a mans wrist, and arc filed with
palatable meat. They are not numerous. Having
the structure of the common crab, their size fits
them for q deeper and safe home in the ocean.