The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-10-30

region may some day become one OF
the main sources of the worlds supply. |
From 5000 cases in 1880 the salmon
pack increased in 1888 to $4,000, yield
worth about $4,000 In 1885 the pack
was $4,000 cases. The average weight
of salmon after being cleaned is 10
pounds. In flavor the Alaska fish is
equal to the Scotch and Norwegian,
which are the best in the world. The
supply is practically inexbaustible. On
the Yukon the run is immense. The
season lasts only about six weeks. Sew
eral canneries have been started since
the American purchase, and they have
been profitable. 1t is conjectured that
this industry may in time eclipse the
Columbia river enterprises altogether.
Salmon is the chief food of the natives,
who are thought to take from 100000
to 1900, 600 fish year, or three times
as many as are required to supply all
the canneries On the Pacific coast. The
Russian company exported annually to
the Sandwich Islands from 100000 to
1900 Westward of Cook Inlet and
elsewhere there are extensive cod banks
probably the largest in the world.
The area already known is more than
100000 square miles. The take of cod
since 1870 has averaged about 100000
fish year Halibut, herring and mack
erel are the other fish with which these
waters abound. Herring arrive in vast
shoals along the whole southern coast.
The mackerel are equal in size and
flavor to those caught in Atlantic waters.
In San Francisco they have sold for S24
per barrel. Herring oil fisheries, near
Sitka, two years ago, produced 10000
gallons of oil. Last year they produced
100000 gallons. The product for
this year will, it is thought, be still
greater. In 1880 the Alaskan fisheries
proper were valued at total of $780,
00O These figures, of course, do not
approach those for the fur-seal industry,
but the time will come when they Will
far surpass them. The one must de-
crease, the other increase.
The fur interests of Alaska well
might receive as much space as this
whole article, so great are they and so
varied is their history. But the sketch
here must be brief The Russian COM
pany during its first term, with an
original capital of 723,OO0 rubles, in
creased afterward to 1888, 740 rubles,
obtained between 1897 and 1920, a
period of % years, net earnings of
1855, COS rubles, of which 4,2j0,0 600
rubles were distributed as dividends
and the remainder added to the capital,
making it about 4,570,0O0 rubles.
During the ensuing period of y years
the Weld fell of considerably, but the
dividends did not There we're ship
ped.in that time $4,000 sea-otter, 4jS,
| 600 fur seal, 1872, 900 beaver, and 100,
600 fox skins, 1873, 900 pounds of whale
bone, and 26O, 900 pounds Of walrus
tusks. The sum distributed among the
shareholders for this period was about
S,jO0,0O0 rubles, or double the sum for
the first period. For the third and last
term there was a further increase, the
dividend amounting to 1920, 1000 rubles,
or an increase of nearly II per cent,
The working capital had now
become over 13,600.000 ru-
bles The receipts for this third term
exceeded 1900, 600 rublcs. The mere
statement Of these figures is sufficiently
forcible. OF the fur operations since the
American purchase, it may be said that
between 1871 and 1888 about s., 100000
was paid to the United States Govern
ment as rent of the Prybilof Islands and
tax on sealskins The Alaska CONNER
cial Company for these seal island,
originally contracted to pay a tiXeC
rental to the Government OF $4,000 &
year, besides a tax of S2.62l on oacl
fur-seal skin and 81 cents per gallon OF
seal oil sh pped from them. They also
engaged to maintain q school on each
island. and to furnish the natives witt
b certain amounts of food and tirewooC
free Of charge. Between 1870 and 1873;
our average revenue was about SSH, 600
, For last year the company paid tho
Government 1882, 437, the number o.
sealsNins taken beng 99,980. At tht
time the company acquired its lease i
represented a capital of $4,000, goo anC
owned 30 trading posts in various part
of the country. 1t gathered last yea
nine-tenths of the worlds supply OF sea
otter skins. The catch now average
from 1900 to 5000 a year, which il
more than double the numb secured be
fore the purchase. These skins ar
worth from S75 to 500 in London
About 1000 blue fox skins are taken.
| The other resources of the countr,
r. are several in number, but their full
, value remains to be revealed. Goa
! has been found near the mouth of Cool
, Inlet. From 1887 to 1861 over 2,7O
| tons were mined by the Russians, tn
g value of which was estimated at 1900
3 rabies. The thickness of the vein va
r. r.ed from nine to twelve feet, With z
g per cent. of mineral Its extent wa
t great. The coal future of Alaska ma
$ be very great Petroleum OF goo
D quality has been found near the sam
t region. Copper was known to the ma
tives and used by them. Masses weigh
a ing thirty pounds and over have bee
e found. On Prince of Wales Island ther
e is a valuable copper mine. Lead ha
. been found in several places, thong
2 not II, .1orfra dnnOsits Silver ere ASSAY