The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-23
FINE FISH FROM ALASKA
GOVERNMENT EXPERTS ENPEfT
INDUSTRY no GROW.

Many Varieties Feunh In Abundanr.
There % Yet little known-Iowrr
Forms Of Sea Life Found In Great
Nmbc1-salmon n Finest Ever
The Governments fishery exhibit AZ
the Alaska Yukon Exposition has been
designed to call attention to the inches
Of tho great northwest territory in the
products of the e q 1t would appear.
indeed, that Alaska is . paradise not only
for the big game hunter but for the
fisherman.
BY those who have eaten it the Alaskan
candle fish Is said to be incomparably
the most delicious Of fish. The candles
begin running In Alaskan waters about
March. and swarm into the river and
estuaries by the millions for several
weeks. The sole, 30 highly esteemed
in England. IL found at its best in the
waters OF the Alaskan coast, and strang &c
TO say has no correspondent on the A.
lantic side OF this continent. Alaskan cod
has proved a revelation TO the epicnre.
being far superior to the Newfoundland
cod. The color Of the sailed. fish when
cooked Ii a bright golden yellow.
Halibut are taken in great numbers in
deep water OF the coast of Alaska, these
fish often weighing 500 pounds each.
The Indian natives are adopts at catching
halih,it and use hooks OF their own manu.
facture made Of bone or nf wood and iron.
which are said to be far more %eficien.
than any shop rig. White fishermen whr
nave tried them will Use no other. for 4
fish which once has bitten seldom ge.s
away. Sturgeon also exist in great num-
beers, as well as anchovies, haddocy.
founder. tomood and whiting or kingtish.
There is q fish caught in salt water along
shore where weeds and kelp grow whica
il the counterpart in color and structure
OF the black bass Of eastern inland fre-i
waters and affords equally good sport
for the trolling spoon.
The richness Of marine life along tbs
coast of Alaska has called forth the won.
der Of veteran scientists Of the fisheris,
bureau. In the coves at low tide star.
fish of many patterns pave the bottom
like cobblestones = starfish Of five. eight.
ten. eighteen and twenty-five fingers az
poiuts. and Of bright crimson, pins.
dark red, yellow. drab and gray hues:
all OF the crabs and prawns left by the
ebh climb and skip over their motionless
bodies, seldom provoking them to stir
the least bit out Of position. On all ths
piles OF the wharves n wherever therc
are sunken logs or trees anemones Of
pink and purest white grow in clusters,
Then there are many kinds OF hideous
octopus, cuttlefish and inkfish. The sra
cucumber is plentiful also. When cured
and dried it makes the article of conf.
merce known as beche -de-mer, highly
priced in China for food. where It is
called trepang. 1t is said by the bureau
investigators that q alua BILE industry
might be built up by preparing this com.
modify for market. Indeed, 1t Is urged
that the possibilities OF the fisheries ot
Alaska are, outside of the SALMON and one
or two other enterprises, scarcely realized
at all.
The inland fisherman in Alaska has a.
plentiful variety. among which are the
salmon and sea trout, the a trout,
two sorts of stream trout, pike, sturgeon,
perch, cells and q very superior white
hsh, OF salmon alone there are five DIS
tinct species, all differing very materially
from those Of the Atlantic coast. The
~quinnat. or king salmon. il a good deal
heavier than his Atlantic congener. aud
in the rivers OF western Alaska average
fifty pounds, while individuals often run
TO 100 pounds,
DR.. Tarieton II. Bean Of the Smith.
sonian Institution, who has devoted many
years to the study of fish and fishing
grounds of Alaska, enumerates hi
species. i0S of which live in the sea and
al permanently or temporarily in fresh
water.