The Alaska sourdough. [volume] (Douglas, Alaska) 1911-1911, 1911-10-24

Francisco northward at least to Hotham
inlet, Kotzebue sound, and Boring
Strait. 1t is found also on the Asiatic
coast and is the principal salmon in
Japanese waters. In size it is second
only to the chinook salmon.
AS food fish this species is inferior
to all other salmon. The inferiority,
however, is more marked when the fish
is canned than when otherwise utilized
The flesh is soft and spongy and does
not lend itself rapidly to the canning
process. 1t is pale in color and there
fore not so attractive in appearance as
that of the other species. When util-
lied fresh the fish takes a higher rank.
1t is coming more and more to be froz-
en- and shipped east or abroad, and is
meeting with much favor in that form.
Considerable quantities are being dy-
sailed for the japanese market In ia
pan this species, the most abundant in
that country, is highly priced and is
valuable product of the fisheries.
When fresh run from the sea the dog
salmon is handsome fish, plump and
silvery, very attractive in appearance
and closely resembles the silver salm
on. Later the dark of the back tends
to form vertical bars which extend
down the sides. In the breeding season
the body becomes muddy black or band
ed in white and red, the jaws elongat
ed, and the teeth show prominently. The
Russians call this salmon hayko or lekai,
while to the Japanese it is sake. The
trade name on our cost is chum.
The dog salmon does not rank high
in popular favor. Commercially it is
the least important, next to the coho It
is, nevertheless, a valuable fish, destined
to become more and more appreciated
as better methods for it's utilization are
learned. The flesh, though not so firm
and faky as in other species, is no less
nutritious and no less wholesome. AT
present it is probably better to utilize
it either fresh or by dry-salting, rather
than by canning.
So say Messrs, Evermann and Colds
borough in heir government Report
on the Fishes of Alaska,' Bureau Of
Fisheries, Document No. 624.
The first run of salmon is the king
as early as March or April sometimes,
usually May. Then the red begins in
May or June, earlier or later in various
places, and over in August or Septem-
Der. The run of humpbacks extends,
perhaps, through longer period than
that of any other species, from June to
September, or later. The run of dog
salmon is next latest, at its height in
August or September. The silver salm-
on is the last to appear, the run in
southeast Alaska usually not beginning
until after the other species have gone.
During this time the canneries and
salteries are busy-a hundred and four
teen steamships and thirty-n sailing
vessels last year transporting supplies
and the pack. At the end of the season
Alaska steamships are loaded odwn
with cases Of salmon from the various
canneries, products to be sent all over
the world.
The last report gave forty-fve can
neries in operation-nineteen in south
east Alaska, eight in central Alaska,
and eighteen in western Alaska These
are operated individually or by compa-
MES, the largest companies being the
Alaska Packers Association, with can !,
neries at Loring, Wrangel, Chignik,
J Karluk, Alitak, SKasilof, Naknek river,
Ugaguk river, Uushagak bay and
Kviehak bay, and the Northwestern
Fisheries company, with canneries at
Quadra, Hunter. bay, Santa Ana, Dun
das bay, Orca,. ,Uyak,. Chignik, ard
Nushagak bay. The. Northwestern
Fisheries company produces perhaps
fourteen per cent, Of the entire output