The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-11-27
DepressiOn's Effects Are
 Felt in AIaska for First
 Time Last Year, Says Parks

giving employment to a substantial number of men in preparation for active production. The Fairbanks district was unusually active, four lode mines being on a producing basis. Several properties were op- erated intermittently on Kenai Pe- ninsula. Nixon Fork property in the Kuskokwim continued its op- erations. Encouraging reports have been received from Prince William Sound, Copper River and Nabesna districts, and from the Seward Peninsula.
 The Yukon-Tanana region con- tinued to be the largest placer geld producer, the next largest being Seward Peninsula. The trend in these areas is to the large, we'll equipped mining companies opera ting on low grade gravels and away from the individual operator. Enghty-cne per cent of all the gold recovered from placers last year was mined by dredges. Dur ing the year 27 dredges mined ap- proximately 9,906,000 cubic yards Of gravel with an average yield of 39la cents per yard.
 Copper Hard Hit
 The copper mining industry has been hard hit by economic condi- tionS that are world wide, and there was curtailment of mining and development. Latouche operations were discontinued and at Kenne- colt the production was materially reduced. Only 32,651 ,000 pounds of copper ore was recovered from all sources, having a value of $4,244,- 900. This was 20 per cent less in quantity and almost $3000,000 less in value than the 1929 production.
 The immediate future in this in dustry, the Governor said, is not bright. Unless there is an im- provement in market conditions and an increase in the price of copper we may anticipate a fur ther reduction in the output of this metal during the coming yaer." he declared
 Silver, largely mined as a by product in copper operations, and in some of the gold bearing ores, naturally suffered from the curtail- ment in the copper mining indus try. The value last year was $751; 300 and the output was 408,570 ounces
 A. J. Lead Production
 Of 2,730,0O0 pounds of lead re- covered in the Territory in 1880, 2,640,771 pounds were taken from the gold bearing rocks of the Alaska Juneau. This is the largest quantity of that mineral ever pro- duced in the Territory in a single year. The Alaska Juneau concen- trates from mechanically reduced gold ores contain a high percent age of lead and this is extracted at the smelter outside of the Terri tory.
 Other IT.; -c--is produced which are not major factors include plat mum and its associated minerals, tin, limestone and marble.
 Coal production for the year in- creased 20 per cent over 1929 to 120,1OO tons valued at $631 ,000 It was exceeded only by the 1928 pro- duction. "The mines are capable ot producing more coal than is necessary to meet local demands, but last year 61,O0O tons were im- ported from Washington and Bri- Jlsh Columbia" the Governor said Inadequate transportation facili- ties" were cited as the reason why domestic coal cannot be supplied to all local markets.
 Oil continued to be produced and refined in a small way in the Katalla field. Under existing con- ditions it does not seem probable that there will be any activities in the oil fileds during the ensuing year." the report noted.
 Fisheries Policy Justified
 The restrictive policy of the United States Bureau of Fisheries has been vindicated by the results attained particularly in the res toration of runs of pink salmon in Southeast Alaska, the Governor de- clared. Due to sensational and un- expected runs in that district last year, the fisheries as whole held their own with other years on quantity basis, but the value of the product was far below normal The western district declined 53 per cent and the central district r per cent in quantity. But these losses were more than balanced by an 82 per cent gain in Southeast Alaska.
 When the Commissioner Of Fisheries announced the policy Of providing for an adequate escape ment in an endeavor to restore the salmon, much opposition was aroused and the failure of the plan was freely predicted. The re-