The Alaska daily empire., 1914-12-10
SaInon


 From the foregoing figures it will be observed that the salmon is easily of leading importance in the fisheries of Alaska, There are five species. commonly known as the Red or Sock eye. Humpbacl; or Pink King or Spring. Dos or Chum and Coho or Silver. This list includes the relative order of their commercial importance The value of the Red or Sockeye is the equal approximately of an the other species combined In Southeast ern Alaska the Humpback predominant es. while in Western Alaska, the Red or sockeye is most numerous.
 The Pacific salmons are anadro- nous. and once the spawning func- ton is completed they an die. Sal mon may be taken In the waters of Alaska throughout the year, but 1t is the spring and summer when tho spawning instinct causes them to seek fresh water streams and lakes, that they are chiefly taken for commercial purposes. The methods of capture includes traps, seines and gll nets while in the mild cure King salmon fishery hand lines are used extensive ly
 In the canning industry in 1913 there were utilized 59,915,12S salmon of all species. Of those approxi- mately S1 per cent. were caught In seines. .82 per cent. in traps, and S7 per cent by. means of gill nets. Seines and traps are used more extensively in the clearer waters of Southeastern Alaska, while glll nets are used chief ly in Western Alaska.
 The first Alaska cannery was con- structed in 1871. and by 1912 the num- ber of plants increased to 87, g in Southeastern Alaska, 14 in Central Alaska, and % in Western Alaska. In 1913 the total investment was SSl, 341,67O. and employment was given to 15.581 persons The canned pro. duct amounted to 8,739,1S5 cases, on the basis of 4S one-pound cans, per case. valued at S18,5Sl,6o4. By districts this product was divided as follows; Southeastern Alaska, $49S5,. 654, and western Alaska, S6,6SO,SSS.
 The mild cure industry is an impor- tant feature of salmon operations. 22 plants being devoted to this work in 1913, 20 of which were in Southeast ern Alaska. The product aggregat- ed 7449 tierces, valued at S54S,S62. The pickled salmon industry centers chiefly in Western Alaska. The total product for 1913 amounted to 8S.SS2 barrels. valued at S279249- Fresh sal mon were shipped from southeastern Alaska in the amount of 645,956 pounds, valued at $51127 while froz- en salmon to the extent of 7O1.4lS pounds, valued at $28.057 were shipped during 1913
 Hallbut
 It is but little realized, especially in the east, that the Pacific coast supplies approximately 85 per cent Of the entire catch of halibut and that Alaska contributes large quota of this output. AS matter of fact most Of the halibut distributed through Boston and other Eastern centers comes from Alaska rather than from the Atlantic, and notwithstanding this seeming handicap of great distance, the methods of handling are such thai the Alaska halibut as laid down n eastern markets is in every way the equal of that from the Atlantic
 Fishing operations are conducted chiefly In the Southeastern section of Alaska, but as some of these banks are not quite as richly productive aa they we're few years ago. there has of late been a tendency to push far ther north and west It is likely that eventually an extensive fishery will develop in the Central Alaska region though the longer haul wili retard the development of this field. Further in. vestigation by the government is nee eseary to locate indefinitely the more
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