The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-02-16
1886 COM M ERCE. OF ALASKA GOES TO HIGHEST PEAK
Year Proves to Be Most Prosperous in History
 of Northland
RECORD SHIPMENTS
 OF GOLD AND SILVER
Greatest Single Increase Appears in Movement
 of Canned Salmon

With a total commerce of $i15,- 963.586 for 1936, Alaska enjoyed one of the most prosperous years in its history. This amount rep resents an increase in trade of ESQ., 412,2l8 over 1885, according to the annual report issued today by James J. Connors, Collector of Gus toms.
 The balance of trade in favor of Alaska showed favorable advance and reached the sum of $37,312, IA, which was higher by $16,284, ,490 than that in 1885.
 Canned Salmon Increase
 The greatest single increase was in shipments of canned salmon. This commodity reached the high est peak in both pounds and value in the history of the fisheries of Alaska since 1928 with total of 407, ,6l9,414 pounds at the declared value of $46,l73,176. This repre- sented an increase of 166,076,52 pounds, and $22,Ol6,782 in value over 1885.
 The grand total of all fish and fish products outbound from AL aska during 1886 reached the sum of $51,971 .206 or an increase of $21,- 874,00l over 1885.
 As further concrete evidence of Alaska's continued commercial de- velopment, the total inbound com- merce during 1886 had a declared value of $39,325, ,721. This was an large increase in inbound com- merce during 1886 represented com- increase of $7,063,864 over 1885. This which for the most part entered the fishing and mining in- dustrieS.
 Record Gold, Silver
 Shipments of gold and silver from Alaska to the United States were the largest since 1909 and aggre- gated $16,87o ,580. However, this was only an increase of $712,922 over like for 1885, and this fact proved a disappointment to all con- cerned. The waterfront strike which tied up all Pacific Coast shipping to and from Alaska after late Oc- tober, probably decreased produc- tion for the current year, or att least hindered shipments of goldI and silver from the Territory for the balance of the year. It is bel lieved delayed shipments will ag-I gregate a million and a half dollars.
 Climatic Conditions
 The climatic conditions that af- feet certain types of mining, such as length of open season and abun- dance of water from rainfall and run-off, seem to have been unusu- ally favorable throughout most of Alaska. Several enterprises thatl had been started in preceding years sl were brought into production and many entirely new enterprises were put under way but will not begin to produce for another year or more.
 Copper ore production, which lay dormant for several years inI the Territory. continued its recent upward trend during 1886 with out bound shipments of 24,671 ,472I valued at $2,488,70 during the year. This represented an in crease of 684,289 pounds and $11.- 965 in value over 1885. Considerable of this ore, like gold, were delayed shipment from thel Territory by the marine strike, otherwise a much more marked increase would have been shown.
 Furs Increase
 Shipments of furs and fur skins from Alaska during 1886 (exclus- i've of seal skins and manufactured furs( amounted to declared value of $1 ,962 ,543, or an increase of $414- I'll over 1885. Seal skins shipped during the year represented inl furs) amounted to declared value of $550,700. This was a decrease from 1885 of 1922 skins and $23,-l 062 in value.
 Passenger travel from the con- tinental United States and Canada into the Territory represented al total of 33.653 persons during theI year, or an increase of 4,226 per- sons over last year.