The Alaska daily empire., 1916-09-12

are mostly women, though the fish ermen. of course. are all men.
 The Alaska Hernng and Sardine Company has adopted a new meth cd of treating labor. There are no bunk houses, or boarding houses. The employees are quartered in lit- tie modern cottages. These are built in row around the head of the cove in which the plant is locat- ed. and there are 20 of them. Later there will be more, for the carpen- ters brought up in the spring have boen employed at this work and other work ever since, and are still at work. The houses are furnished and electrically lighted. They are furnished free to the workers. The result has been, according to Capt Thomas. very satisfactory. The com munity life is pleasant, and the work excellent. "I never had such sptis- factory experience with labor in my life." he said. Capt. Thomas will not need the experts after the pres eut year. because others have been taught the business.
 Capt. Thomas says the herring season continues from May until about Christmas time.
 Modern Plant
 The plant of the Alaska Herring and Sardine Company is one of the best in Alaska. lt IS modern in every respect. The buildings are sub stanual and the machinery and oth- CT apparatus of the latest designs. The plant is equipped with wire less station
 Cleanliness and the maintenance Of sanitary conditions for the treatment of the product of the company have first consideration Large impound- ing traps are kept so that the fish are retained in captivity alive for weeks. This system permits the op- orators to know upon what the fish are feeding.
 Market is the Next Problem
 "The next problem confronting the company will be to market the product" said Capt Thomas. "rhe United States imports more herring than any other country in the world except Russia. but We shall have Go educate the people 10 the fact that ikippered herring can be produced in Alaska. and that the article is su. perior to that Of any other country. The only herring waters of the Unit ed States except Alaska are along the Maine coast, but their fish is inferior to the Alaska product
 The kippered herring are put up in pound cans, four dozen of them in a ease. The product of this variety of fish this year will be 3O,OOO cases, which is sold to the iobbers for S7 making the pack worth S2iO,- OOO. In addition to this, however, the largest fish are dry salled and packed in barrels, and sold in that way.
 Starts at Juneau Capt. Thomas has started his cam paim of educating the American people to the quality of Alaska kip. pered herring in Juneau The little oval cans. labeled Wakefield Kip pered Herring" were placed on the shelves of all Juneau grocery stores this week. They are named for the President of the Company Lee II. l Wakefield, who made a fortune in the salmon business. He owns half interest in the Alaska Herring and Sardne Company.
 Capt Thomas old-Timer in North
 Capt Thomas was Juneauite for some time. and was engaged in the fish business here. About eight years ago he went to Ketchikan, where he is still running the A. w.. Thomas Company which is catching fish for halibut bait and putting up salted herring. 1t was in the prose cution Of this business that he dis covered the advantages of the Port Walter region for herring. and that induced him to locate the kippering and sardine business there
 May Place Plant at Sitka
 It is the purpose of the Alaska Herring and Sardine Company to eX- tend it's operations as fast as it's business will warrant. Now 1t IS considering the situation about Sit ka.
 "We have location at Sitka,' said Capt Thomas. but will not put in plant there until we shall have explored the herring fields about that place and tested the feasibility of treating the fish there. We are hopeful. and it might be that with in few years there will be good ] nlnrf ihnrn n