Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-09-16
Alaska.

| Alaska.
While tho mining and timber interests Of
Alaska argue we'll for the steady and pres ,}cr
Gus advancement of our newly acquited posses.
sions, both OF the Sc will I'D at 40 distant day
the product of tie waters a most formidable
rival. Alaska is destined to supply tho world
with fish. Its waters abound 10 halibut, her.
ring, cod and salmon; indeed there hardly be.
| ing species but what representatives can be
found. While those above named are to be
tcu; u IN cndless pr6tusion, fluuders, black
| bass, rock Cod, trout and tho delicious eulocOus
| with other varieties, abound in numbers sup
| plying the Detives with abundant food at all
| Seasons OF the year.
At klowok, sixty miles from Fort Wraugel
tho North Pacific trading and picking company
have lsrgc fishery 10 operation where during
| the present Year especial attention has been
! pad to herrlug. The catch this spri1g was
| very successful, the fish being 10 yriue coud
| tlon and not only larger in size but of better
flavor than ever before sent 20 market. Ouc
hundred and seventy barrels were sent to Port.
land for the purpose of introducing tho fish to
dealers, and if desired ten times that amount
could have been secured.
Five miles from the town of Sitka the firm
OF Cuttiog & Co., have large caunery erected
where thousands OF saimon are put up every
year to meet the demand made for Alaska
salmon from the eastern markets. While tho
salm Oh from these waters have DOT tho gusta
Bile richness, and lack the savory favor of
Columbia river salmon, there arc many that
prefer the Alaskan species, particularly 10 the
Eistero States and foreign couutriss This
may be, perhaps, acc,uuted for, 10 part, for the
reason that Columbia river salmon labels fed
their Tay on thousands OF cans Of what is pur
ported to be the genuine article, while ir fact
their contents are dog fish. The establishment
OF Mcssrs. Cutting " 20. is camplete 10 every
detail, aod ls under the superintondepc2 of Mr..
a. Huoter. A large number of white men
aud Indians lied steady employment at the
csnnery during the summer, and it is remark
able to witness the proficiency attained by some
of the Indian boys in max ng oaus. Some idea
IF the extensive business of this establishment
may be had 10y the shipments made. and this
year the superintendent will s,nd 40, 900 cases
OF fish to San FRANCISCO and the eastern mar.
kcts.
The catching of goldfish 10 Alaskan waters is
becoming yearly moro prosperous pursuit,
a1d this season MIR. j ames Haley of Fort Wrao
gel, sccnrad a schooner load OF cod at the
Knout q u bank. 10 Chatham straits. He
found the bank swarmlng with fish. but the
ludlaus of that locality, the kout znous, are
'hlyu Sullry,' over the coming Of white men
10 their waters, refusing to allow tho men to
fish, performing that work themselves sud
charging one cant for each aud every fish
caught, ln this way full load was secured,
which is DOW in process of curation at Wraugel.
A ready market for the fish is found at home
for supplying the mining camps, the entire
cargo being readily disposed of at 500 ton,
delivered at Wrangel. The Alaskan cod, whom
once fairly introduced to Oregon aud California
markets, will rapidly become favoritc With all
IVvars of thst fish, and in time supplant the
eastern caught fish. The attention Of nun.
Der of capitalists has already been attracted to
this important feature of Alaska waters and
the fishing interests, now but in its incipiency,
will shortly loom up iu huge proportions, sup
plyiGg the wants OF the world With tho choicest
specimens from the 6ouy tribes that haunt the
waters If our northwest territory,
Alaska is never destined 10 become an aeri.
cultural country, save 10 a small way. Macy
Of the residents at Snka, Fort Wrauge. and
the raising Of vegetables, and tbei, labors 10
this direction have not been 10 vain. Cab
bages, caulihower, celery, radishes. lettuce,
| carrots, leeks, and potatoes thrive exceedingly
| we'll at Sitks, and in and about Wraneel most
of the above vegetables are also succ! s5tull9
| raised. The potato does especially well, and
| has fur years been extensively cultivated by
| the Indians on the numerous islands. The
Presbyterian mission is having one of the small
sands cleared tor The purpose of starting farm.
| Currantb aud gooseberriei viii stand the test
when compared with those Off any low3r lati-
tude. The black curraDt grows in large thick
cts on nearly every islatd. The small Gran
| berry of Alaska Is already highly prz,d in
Portland and San Francisco, always bringing
better price than the Eastern berry on &C.
count of its delicate f,vor. Grab apples abound
| on ell the sands 10 the neighborhood Of Stka,
| sni beds OF strawberries are fouud as far north
as Cr).s SQUAD. Salmon and huck ckeberries
abound 10 their season and or, gather, in i'm
| m,nse quantities BY the | ans ald arc dli.
and pr served for winter f,od.
Ooe of the main OH cts had in view BY the
United States Government when the purchase
OF Alaska was first mooted, wss the immense
timber resources of the territory. Hills aud
mouu,aias, island and the mainland are heavily
wooded with yearly all trees ind geu >us to North
America Gigautie spruce, 6r and pine trees
abound everywhere, while the cedar and ham
lock are tq1aIly thrifty. HIRE the yellow cedar
grows 10 lusu lance, from tie bark and r. o of
viii b tue Indians make hats, cIotblog. mattIug,
blankets aud ionunerabIe curios, while its
wood can b, worked 10 all manner of fsDoifu
| designs. The wealth IF the Alaskan forest
woald be fard 10 e. nate. Bu: little attempt
has as yet been made to utilize it, but it is a
| hug. reserve store that will in time not only
supply our owa but other countries with lumber,
mas,s aud spars, and be perpetual treasury to
our government.
The approach to Ska, or more properly
speaking, the town OF New AtchaDgel, from
the sea 90 clear sumner day presents scene
of true natural magn6cenc, rivaling, 10 its
splendor the vauoted beauties OF fair Italy g
dreamy skies and ots told stories Of her scenic