The sun., 1894-03-15
The Salmcn OF Alaska

The great industry OF Alaska Is the catch
ing and canning OF salmon. Established only
about dozen years ago on any large scale.
IL has grown to vast proportions. The rec
ord OF 2O.0oO cases canned in 1882 had be-
come $1,000 in 1854. and lsO. 200 in 1886 Two
years later il had reached AZ. .372 cases,
while in 1859 II rose to To9. 4T, and in 1891 to
1sa. COO. A case contains 45 pounds. so that
this annual output represented 3T.sT2,0OO
pounds Of canned salmon. exclusive OF the
salted and smoked salmon prepared every
year. There are now 81 great cannerieS
established on the coast.
II appears from certain facts recently
laid before the Senate that this great In
dustry. the products OF which 60 all over
the world. is now threatened. II will be
observed that the increase oi the output
from 1858 TO 1859 was over .hree times as
great as from 1883 to 1891; and further. that
while from 1887 10 1883 the increase was
above so per cent. from the latter year to
1891 it was only IL per cent. In 1892 the
output actually fell of TO a.. 900 cases: and
although last year there was a recovery to
COS coo. yet this was over 10000 cases less
than the output of four years before.
What Is the reason for this diminution :?
Senator MITCHELL finds 1t in the fact that
there are fewer salmon: while the reason
why there are fewer salmon is that the
small streams and rivers up which they go
TO spawn. are guarded with nets, fsh racks,
and other appliances that stop them. As
oyertishing and the unlawful barTicading
OF the streams affect a business which
gives employment TO upward OF 300 men.
with 100 steam vessels and so fshing
boats. it is not surprising 10 ind petitions
for redress coming TO Congress.
law passed four years ago was spe-
cially directed to the protection OF
these salmon fisheries OF Alaska. II
prohibited. under penalties, the erection
OF the barricades which thus catch out all
tine salmon that return to the streams
where they have been hatched. But the
first trouble was that no appropriation
existed for enforcing that law; and when.
at last. an appropriation was secured. the
special agent appointed for that purpose
was removed after one seasons expert
ence. and his successor. appointed by Mr..
CLEVELAND last spring. died in Alaska
during the year. his son then dischATg-
ing his duties. This breaking Up % the
continuity in the service and the extreme
difficulty In getting about from point 20
point except by occasional steamers. there
being 10 land travel. ma y account ioT the fail
ure thus far 10 enforce the Law adequately.
There is another point for consideration.
Several years agO tile Governor Of Alaska.
after reporting t1st in many places the
salmon fishery was OyeTdone. and in others
was carried on by destructive methods.
| further asserted that the natives were
sometimes robbed u sources ci food supply
which they had relied on fo- generations as
their chief means Of subsistence Capt.
HKALY confirmed this statement, and NJ
ported that an Indian outbreak had been
threatened by this oOnduct Of the eanDeT!es.
| OF late. however. less has teen heard Of
such complaints. while some natives earn
| money BY fishing for the eaBneHes-
The main evil requiring remedy appears
| 70 Be the one described BY Senator DOLPH
| IL saying that be himself had seen ssines
| stretched clear across the small streams Of
Alaska, in violation Of the Law. while thoII-
sands o. salmon thus caught, and eoBsii-
cred rot quite perfect for Gaming. were
| dead and floating upon the water. To r--
new the annual appropriation for a special
agent. 70 have him present In Alaska
' throughout the hshinG se4soR- and % fur