The Ketchikan mining news., 1907-03-08
SALMON PACKING
A More than Usually Profitable Season Anticipated..NO Idle
 Concerns This Year


 activity prevails in making prepara- tions for the seasons work The indications are that all the canneries in Southeastern Alaska, without ex- ception, large and small will be run to their full capacity the coming season,
 limited only to the extent of possi- ble failure in some cases to secure the supply of fish necessary to keep them in steady and uninterrupted opera tion,. This last mentioned contin- gency is not likely, however, to occur in this part of Alaska, inasmuch IS that contingency is one which operators will consider oi l primary importance and take every measure to provide against.
 The canneries in this district, only ! part of which were operated, made an output last year of 260, 900 cases, in round figures, a product which bids fair to be largely increased the coming season. All those that were operated last year will make strenuous endeavors to increase their output which will be further increased by | that of two concerns which were idle last year, and one which had | ts product curtailed by fire which destroyed it's plant and occasioned urther loss of 10, GOO cases previously packed. This has reference only to ,he canneries embraced in the Ketchi- lan district, and does not take into he account those tributary to Wran- sell, those on the west and north side ,f Prince of Wales, or those further forth and west, but within the dis 5rict of country generally designated ls southeastern Alaska Taken al- ogether these canneries give promise of an increase of not less than 50 per cent. over last years pack.
 Mr. J. R. Heckman, manager of 3he Loring cannery, will go below shortly to fit out a ship with supplies md full force of Chinamen for putting lp the seasons pack, with the ex- pectation of having everything in readiness to take full advantage of whatever the season may afford in the run of salmon. The cannery will be operated to it's full capacity, sub- ject only to limitation in the supply of raw material, and therein no difficulty is anticipated, the manage ment having way peculiar to itself of always being able to gather in all the fish required.
 The Northwestern Fisheries con- pany will operate the Hunters bay and Boca de Quadra concerns and, as mentioned elsewhere, the Kasaan cannery will be rebuilt in time to engage in business the coming season. So far as The Mining News can learn there will not be an idle cannery in southeastern Alaska this season. while there will be the usual activity at the salteries, at which it is expected large quantities of dog salmon will be salted to fill the Japanese demand for that article.
 In addition to this there is likely to be an added impetus given to the business of dry salting of salmon and halibut for both domestic and foreign markets. The New England Fish company, which recently purchased a plot of ground here at Ketchikan, is understood to be preparing the plans for buildings and complete cold storage and fish curing plant, of which Mr. Pratt, former superin- tendent of the Fidalgo Island company cannery, will have charge. It is given out that this plant will be one of the largest and most complete of its kind on the Pacific coast, and that Mr. Pratt is now in Boston consulting with the company in regard to plans gives reasonable assurance that this promised industry will ere long take on permanent form and substance.
 Since the above was put in type the large ocean going tug King6sher, belonging to the New England Fish company, arrived in this harbor and after short stay left on prospect ing cruise to the west coast of Prince of Wales, intending to go as far north as Coronation island. She has on board crew of 40 fishermen, and will look out for the best halibut fishing grounds, taking on board such-fis as she may be able to secure, and in case of failure of a full catch, will com- plete her cargo at the fishing grounds in Dixon's Entrance. It is the avow- ed purpose of the company to estab- fish station here which will be made their headquarters for all this part of Alaska.
 Some Young Salmon. The Fort mann hatchery will turn out ninety million young salmon this season. One hundred and five million eggs were secured, but an unexpected freeze up which cut off part of the water supply for the hatchery caused loss of fifteen million, and will re- duce the production of small fry to