The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-15
ALASKAN FISHERIES.
Their Importance ind vnlue-EnormousC Con.
sumption and Waste by Natives.


sumption and Waste by Natives.
s1rKA. Alaska. April 2a.-The fisheries Of
Alaska form no small part OF tho immense re-
sources of the Territory. The total value OF
the catch last year amounted to more than
S5.10O.0OO. Soventy-four kinds Of food
fishes are caught. moro than sixty OF which
can be used by man. while tho remainder come
under the head OF bait for catching An emu
meration would include nearly oil the speci-
mems OF ichthyoosy Of North America Those
most in use at the present time are salmon.
cod. herring. halibut, reddish. sen and brook
trout. black bass. pike. oolichon. whitefsh.
copelin. and anchovy. Tho natives. in addi-
ton. use the octopus. whale. shark. porpoise.
doglsh. hair and fur seal. ard other kinds.
Salmon fishing is tho largest and most Inn
portaut branch Of the industry. In operation
now arc thirty seven canneries. with the pros.
pect Of three others during the year. and seven
or more sailing establishments The agRre-
gate pack OF the canneries In 1891 was esq.,
332 cases Of four dozen one pound cans, the
value OF which was S2.753.32a The quantity
OF sailed salmon was about 1900 barrels.
These salmon fisheries represent cspi-
tai OF s4.3OO.OOO. and they give employ.
ment to about 1000 white laborers. $500
Cinnamon. and 1000 natives. and require
in their business for transportation and other
b boats Tho business OF canning salmon II
Alaska was commenced less than ten years
nearly every part OF the globe. Perhaps. no
other saitwater fish suts the palate Of SO
Tho quantity Of salmon that Is consumed In
Alaska is enormous, 1t is one Of the most i'm
portant items in the subsistence account;
salmorrand halibut for, winters use. perhaps
not less than 500 to $50 pounds Of each. and
son. In the Bristol Bay district it is estimated
that the salmon caught annually to feed the
regulation OF 1000 people is not less than
The col fishery Of Alaska may be considesed
sSe ia to o sn1
900 fish: valued ct more than $4,000. Since
hS in hS tha 81
aSins .aS yS Sfs Of s65oG5 The ndasts;
ani United SUPPLY and the favorable Location Of
Of Alaska and as far down ms British Columbia.
Just now almost the entire cod: fishing bust.
tho shumagin. Islands and in the Behrine. Sea.
Tho facilities for the pursuit OF the cod fishing
are ,sreater q, On tho Pacific side than they arc
tS % Il hes been paid 70 hs51t
throughout tho whole, year. The Thlinket
exhibit In nd
Of fish was sent to the mark fresh. but the
demand is not yet sufficient to command the
lay it before tic consnm ,t in in, the best con.
dition. The home consnmpi9n u this fish Is
arGs T4s naves try them ZONE otsn
all they require fresh ut any season. Fish
Of very large size are taken frequently. weigh.
those from 50 to 80 pounds are preferred
The schools p q herring are arge, In , many
business OF Importance only by the Alaska OIL
4ta GSsn9 f9 I'M at EsmS 4ng
rSlS. euull to about g.JO tons, 4g,lUOVNp
boring From, that catch , camc $4,000 Tal.
ans Of ok Valued at soap rS o %" t
fE ns""d 70 Tne n ice" a 1t a "om %n%
consists Of three steamer. four n SONS: and
Indians. and . f,w.iinamen AS AN expe!i.
ment. and to snow what can te done In the
Sitka some time ago iil.,d his scow; WIN I'VE
haus Of The net one Of which WELDED l5Oy
herring about the size Of sardnes Afford nno
opportunities for the Location OF sartine rack.
M es,ahltistIhmsnts; but the opportunity has
Tho, whaling business in the waters, adjacent
fSFss s sS A:oS anS T$s On
.! isTtyepe vessel and i resulted = catch
1t sI,5iI3io Tho Whaling Meet Loft in March
this year. and consisted OF only thirty.eigh
ysG w.. Tho cruise lasts usually from SIX TO
Whaling is on the decline IN this vicinity, as
Whaling reached the zenith Of its glory, 27S
ships were engaged In tho bu siness. and the
value OF the catch OF that single year amount
Cd to sl47ls.51o The total sal Sh for The last
whalebonr 2l7; 40 mounds ivory; and so6.6s9
gallons oil. total value OF S2t5OO,OOO.
The yellow Ash. or Alaska mackerel. As IT, 10
called somGtimes y finely iiayored fsht fully
schools Of them, have been found along the
west end OF the Aleutian Islands. but no resu.
lar business Of taxing them has been de!el-
op"d some lots have; no hhwey S been sod In
The waste OF lsh by tho natives is enormous,
and further developme ont of the industry should
bring ahon: an imprnyrment and cause sav-
ing 0f the supply. The quantity Of 0sh sent
from Alaska TO tho states and other mar
kets Of the world, whom compared with the con-
sumption by 30 natives is small indeed: but
tn ln.i1"ss shows a tendency u increase In
magnitude year after year. a. In demonstrated
by the steadily, increasing shipments % fresh.
salt dried and canned nsh. 1t Is doubtful.
,wever. with the existing unsettled condition
q the country, whether ANYTHING could pc
present unnecessary vast and slaughter. The
estimated annual consumptlon Of salmon
among the natives OF Cook . Inlet about 16S
families: y mt down At 800 600 poupds.. q
process OF drying. The total exports Of Gsh