The Alaska daily empire., 1920-02-06
REPORT FOR 1919 SHOWS
 TRADE DECLINE
Continued from Page One)

siderable portion of the year and re suited in much lower prices for the nroduct. The year ended, however, with conditions more satisfactorily and shipments approximately up to the 1918 average. The average monthly shipments for the last two moths of the year was 6,050,OOO pounds as aganst a monthly aver age for 1918 of 6,137,000 pounds For 6 months of 1919 the average month ly shipments amounted to 2,411 ,000 pounds, and in May they reached the low level of 1134,O0O pounds. The quantity of copper shipped during 1919 declined approximately B pei cet from 1918 and the value of the copper shipped was approximately i A per cent less than the previous l year
 The only really distressing feature of the years business in Alaska is that indicated by the continuing de crease in the shipment of gold, due of course to continued decrease ir i production The cause for this iF the still prevailing labor shortage and the abnormally high cost O. mining gold without corresponding increase in the value of the product The vast areas of unworked low grade gold placer fields and the great number of only partly developed golt lode properties, together with new discoveries. suggest that, with read justments in the industrial and econ omic world completed, Alaska's golt output will again begin to increase Many of the low-grade placer mines and, also, lode mines which were operated prior to the war but wers compelled to close on account of the shortage of labor, the constantly i1 creasing cost of material and operat ing expense and lack of transporta tion facilities, are still idle. and probably, they will remain so unti conditions become stable.
 More Herring Fishing
 One of the most favorable indica tions of the year was the very satis factory growth of the herring indus try, shown in the marked increase O the shipments of canned herring The experience of the year would seem tt justify the contention of the Govern or and other authorities that, in tho course of time, the herring industr, in Alaska will rival the salmon in dustry in proportions.
 The increase in the importation o. furs from British Columbia, YukoT Territory and Siberia was due largely to the increased activity of the Alas l,a fur dealers, and partly compen sated for the short catch of Alaska furs last year.
 The decrease in shipments iron the United States to Alaska for191! from the record made in 1917 ant 1918 is explained by the fact tha large enterprises begun before the war had been completed and tho materials entering into them de livered, the curtailment of work or the Alaska railroad, a decrease in tho building son account of the higher costs.
 The principal exports of Alaskan products of foreign countries. no shown in the second table of this re port, entitled Value of Merchandise aid Gold and Silver Shipped iron Alaska to the United States" are thf following copper and other metal exported from Southeastern Alasks Q British Columbia for treatments to wit:
 Tons of ore, 1.73S1a; copper con tent, 359711 lbs, value $67.9S6; gold 352 ozs.. value $5,9S6; silver, 3,13' ,zs.. value 3132: platinum. 99 ozs., s7932; palladium, 177 ozs.. value 324-Total value. $106,36O
 Also likewise exported to British Columbia. the following fish pred ucts, to wit:
 Salmon, fresh ..... 1.363.435 5 105, ,40t Halibut. fresh m 4004.733 632,34e Cod, fresh ............ 317,S02 11,S4E Herring, salt ..... 37,S40 7,T4c Salmon, canned 2,456,416 426,S4s
 $1,1SS.1Se
 COMMERCE OF ALASKA
 Imports
 1918 1919 Merchandise
 from U S$40,41225S S37,476,232