74 REPORT OF ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS. 



ALBATROSS. 



There is an important matter regarding the Albatross, the largest vessel engaged in general deep-sea 

 fisheries work for the Government, that I want to mention. This is in regard to converting the vessel to 

 an oil burner. 



I was on the Albatross for nearly two months this season and had ample opportunity to study her 

 myself and to listen to the discussions of others who knew her better than I did from the point of experi- 

 ence and actual contact with conditions. This vessel, while rather old, has a hull which is in splendid 

 condition and good for many years. The fact, however, that the Albatross is a coal burner makes her 

 expensive to operate and lessens her efficiency, particularly on account of a reduced steaming radius. On 

 an average day's run at 8 knots an hour, the fuel consumption is now about 12 tons of coal, which, based 

 on prices in western Alaska, costs about $144. If the vessel were converted into an oil burner, at a cost 

 of about $26,000, she would save nearly $2,500 in one month for fuel alone, or approximately $15,000 in a 

 year, based on six months' cruising. The present limited coal-carrying capacity is such that for a trip of 

 any distance a heavy deckload of coal must be carried. Outside of the mere fact that it makes everything 

 dirty and unsightly, it is an extremely dangerous situation, for if the vessel ever met with heavy weather 

 in this condition there would be danger of the upper works being stove in, the ultimate result of which 

 might be to cause the ship to founder. The installation of oil-burning equipment would do away with the 

 chance for any such disaster. 



HATCHERY WORK. 



Hatchery work in Alaska, both private and Government, deserves the utmost consideration. There 

 are five private hatcheries in the Territory one on Karluk River, Kodiak Island, owned by the Alaska 

 Packers Association; one on Heckman Lake, Revillagigedo Island, southeastern Alaska, owned by the 

 Alaska Packers Association; one on Hetta Lake, near the southern end of Prince of Wales Island, owned 

 by the Northwestern Fisheries Co. ; one near Boca de Quadra, at the head of Smith Lake, on Buschmann 

 Creek, in southeastern Alaska, also owned by the Northwestern Fisheries Co.; and one at Klawak, on the 

 west coast of Prince of Wales Island, owned jointly by the North Pacific Trading & Packing Co. and the 

 North Alaska Salmon Co. 



These private hatcheries have for the past 10 years produced annually an average of 98,000,000 sockeye 

 or red-salmon fry, and since the passage of the act of June 26, 1906, have received from the Government a 

 rebate therefor on their fishery tax at the rate of 40 cents for every thousand red or king salmon fry liberated, 

 which rate is the equivalent of the tax on 10 cases of salmon. The question of whether or not the future 

 supply of this variety of salmon has been benefited is hardly the point to be considered to-day. The fact 

 remains that the Government is granting a rebate that should be discontinued without delay. The United 

 States Bureau of Fisheries is doing excellent work in Alaska, and it is good business to presume that the 

 practice of paying private concerns to carry on this part of what is really the Government's business should 

 cease at once, and in the future all such operations should be conducted by the Government through the 

 proper department. The obligation that the Government must assume when it repeals the present law 

 prohibiting further buying of fry or rebating in connection with the salmon canneries is an open question. 



In connection with the recommendation that the law allowing rebates on private hatchery output be 

 repealed at once, I would also suggest that the five private hatcheries in Alaska be looked over carefully 

 this coming year by a board of three from the Bureau of Fisheries, to determine whether their operation 

 under Government ownership should be considered. 



PRIVATE HATCHERIES. 



The Karluk hatchery has been operated for 19 years. It is situated about a mile and a half from the 

 mouth of the Karluk River. The buildings are in a fair state of preservation. The interior and working 

 part of the plant is also in fair order, but it is evident that the location is very undesirable. Under present 

 conditions, it is necessary to deposit the fry in salt water, which is objectionable and can not possibly 

 produce the desired results. The capacity of this hatchery is about 50,000,000 salmon eggs. 



The Heckman Lake hatchery, commonly known as the Loring or Fortmann hatchery, has inexpensive 

 buildings, but they are in a fair state of preservation. This place is 8 miles from navigable water, and 

 it is rather inaccessible, in view of the fact that it may be reached only by crossing a lagoon, two portages, 



