New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-09
FISHERIES OF ALASKA.
A GREAT FIELD TO BE DEVELOPER

to DO found on which vessel appeared in Tu-
recently. has had much experience IN IN.
fishery business, and OF the pioneers Of tbs
| Alaska fisheries. In view Of the latter fac, .
TRIBUNE reporter asked him TO tell In his own Va
what he had learned about the fisheries OIL that "a,
| distant coast
"Now don't wish to comment upon our inte,u
gent Fish COMMISSIONER said the cabta,
though the scaly business OF throwing AVA
money on foreign fisheries, when we have spes
ample fields at home is open TO criticism. For ona
whose business for many years has been vat
one to attempt to give sketch Of one or two Of r
fishing cruises may seem dry. However II trn,b.
will interest will be able to give a little sea,onin,
Before had command of the Amethyst. the olde.,
American ship afloat, and known better as 'Oh
Hickory vel mean myself and wife. for We wera
~ the mead OF the expedition, and our family was
augmented early in the voyage, despito the a,ser.
| ton that fishing is not healthy-brought 10 tbs
| Columbia River a cargo of %. 900 Alaska cod Tha
voyage was and the fact soon became
known that genuine Alaska cod was on the market
and, for flavor and nutrment. was unsurpassed by
any in the world. 1t would seem that Alaska beeame
known for the first time and this, too, after we had
| paid 81 200, 900 for that Territory OstennbIy for
its worth n fisheries, and again S5.50UO 200 tor the
right tO-ish somewhere else. Anyone having
upon our w0rked-out Canadian grounds with dis
dain.
These facts not sufficiently known, else surely
this ishermans paradise would not be neglected.
To " no has the millions OF the finest OF he
inny the acres OF salmon ranging IN weight from
ten TO one hundred pounds each more, hanging
in the sun to dry without salt or other curative
simply cured by the pure air OF Alaska-it is hand
| to speak without the appearance OF exaggeratlou.
Yet we have seen all this. We have seen scuryy
dogs fed on salmon-better fish than some | paid a
guinea each for a few weeks ago IN Liverpool. One
salmon such rs "A dogs master would keep Tor hun
self would be a good seasons work for British
| Channel trawler. Snch an Alaska salmon would he
| priced more than Jumbo was ahd the English
public would be less likely to part with u. | have
frequently seen three Alaska salmon fill a barrel
winch 1t would take sixteen Columbia River sal
mon TO fill. Again prime Alaska salmon are as tar
ahead of Couml ia River fish a. the latter
superior to those of California. There Is, 10 he
sure an abundance OF Alaska fish only Dt for fer.
| tIllZng. and this was the kind first sent aboard
| branded Alaska and which for a time JeOpaIdizI
| the Alaska fishery interests. Again. so much has
been said about the cold. icy regions II mas been
our privilege and pleasure to feed on GOOD straw.
berries at kOdlac, notwithstanding a general ion.
preston that only ice grows there.
"The best three species of salmon run in success
sion and afford nearly SIX months good nShing
| about Cook Inlet and English llarbOr. An ALUM
! dance of wood and several coal mines furnish
| ample means for cooking fish Tor the world. #
utilized. This should be the market of employment
for "A large number of the idle youth OF pOft
! towns and it would have been long ago had proper
considerable ion been given to the enterprise. often
! think how stupid it is IN young boys or laboring
men to idle about cities, when much mght
be done to improve their condition and develop The
resources of the country II they would only strike
out and accept a little rough life at hrst. Ii tie
Idle lads of san Francisco could he gwen such en-
plOyment, instead OI placing them on board Of un.
profitable and expensive school ships they would
become better men and seisuppOrtlng ~ less time.
There would then be less cause for complaint
against sand-lotters' and 'boodlums.' AMI We
would thus make honest men of those who other
wise become burden and a disgrace to the com
munity. Instead of bOwle-kniie and revolver. the
lad would soon learn TO use the hsh-knie and
steady puc; in place of being a terror to the
| authorities AMI the people, he wOud become
re onciled to warfare on salnon and cod.
80 once had an experience with u vicious crew
such a. speak of. We sailed iIom san Francisco IN
a crazy old craft, so unseaworthy Tat her owners
hoped that voyage would be her ast bnt-she lie.
turned home. In less tnan hundred days We had
returned with full cargo Of salmon ana rIew OF
fishermen. We spent seventy nine days going aud
coming so we had a quick till-dp.' We uuneces
sariy went to kamtchatka. We could have OBJ
tanned an abundance of cod ami salmon within BALI
the distance, and where for the last centny they
have been undlsturbed, except that the big ones
eat the little mp. Owing to the manner OF
distribution there was no announcement for The
fishing business at first. Upon our voyage the
crew were TO receive two hfths Of the net proceeds,
with additional emolunents 10 the mate ANA c0OpE
As there was not much of market Tor fish nj san
Francisco catch had to he sent to the South Seas
aud to South America. Our shares amounted to
tWO-iifths Of-nOthlng. While waiting To dispose
| of our catch our owners found cheap-iOO cheap
| storage. Ii was dllapldated Iunk-Nhop standing
| dilaDIdaied piles. lhe salmon were stHfru I'D
| tiers and long before the storage was completed
everything tell with crash. The mud larks OF san
Francisco were employed IN fishing the iaffelN out
of the mire mt 80 cents an hour; then new barrels
| had to be obtained. Repackng dad not prove pro.
| htabe, for in less than year after the lsh mad
been shipped to market word came from lquiqne,
| Peru. that bill 81 indictment had been found
against the owners for maintaining nuisance az
that place. Such was the isnOmnous failure OF
one of my early fishing voyages to Alaska. the
greatest profit being the redemption of those WHO
COMPOSED the from the sand lots life.
Now I'll carry You over to Manila. on one Of the
Philippine islands. where | purchased the old
schooner Patio, " hich rode ont many Il boisterous
sea before we reached Hong Kong. Looking over
my traps, | found the old spitIna-knlie which,
welded when mate and splitter "n my last fishing
cruise. Tins became the very nucleus OF a success
| ful voyage it proved GOOD omen. C0aStng along
| China and JaDan 10 Saghalln, where we rode ou'
| irightu snow storm IN May, We went To hant
! cha,ka We hen went to the Ochotsk Sea- where
| we luckily met the Dark Constitution with cargo
OF salt. This was he bark winch only short time
before brOnght me back To n country where, alter
| hopeless attempts, succeeded IN finding the lady
| who would have me for a husband rather than I'VE
| IN foreign land or, rs she quantity put IT, when
she took me, Any port IN a st0. IN. And thought
! 81 when she accepted me. Our wedding tour was 10
Alaska. and 'hink we had happier time than
| many who travel TO ParIs.l We took in a supply u
salt hooks ne- and leads, and set SAL Tor the fish
ing grounds. Our crew consisted If SIX IN ALL none
| of whom had ever seen live fish from Alaska
| We agreed upon the lay >: ! became splitter. ana
my good wife nurse ami cabin cook. She alsoH
intervals made loaf oi rye bread Tor the crew, anu
| baked il IN tub lined with clay and stones. snea
| as you would in the South Sea Islands. lbe
work of catching was sport at inst. but when tno
mems earnings advanced from ~ u Tl2 per day,
! their perspective riches made them mutinOus andl
| read to them the articles of war. | at the saae
| time disrhai ged the leader OF the dsaeced men,
| who mad already induced the cook 10 desert ueol
the impression that other cook could be obtainea
and the voyage would he b-oken up The otbera
| however took turns at the cooking. All went "eI
after this; we soon got ou' MI up and then sqna
Oregon. in good time bat were not permitted L, us
| charge cargo there because, as the CUSTOMS
officer frankly informed us, the cannery Is jos; ln
wedth of ltseP beyant the city limits, an tennro
| the law will not permit ye To discharge here v"
| were tOwed TO Portland next day, whsre w
discussed OF our cargO. receiving fair rcmnnefaon,