THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 



239 



was 2.5 pounds heavier than the- heaviest weighed by us. The average weight of 1.597 fish (782 weighed 

 by us. 815 by Mr. Chamberlain) was 5.25 pounds. The Yes Bay humpbacks appear to be heavier 

 than any others. 



An examination of these figures and the detailed data on which they are based does not, however, 

 indicate that any geographic races ran be recognized. While the averages for the different streams 

 show considerable differences in some instances, the individuals from any one stream lack homogeneity 

 and show a range of variation in length and weight great enough to include that of the different streams. 



The humpback salmon is known to the Russians as gorbuscha and to the trade as pink salmon. 

 Not until recently in the history of the salmon-canning industry has ii been utilized. Its flesh is pale 

 or pink in color, less firm in texture, and with less of the salmon flavor characteristic of the sockeye 

 and chinook. For these reasons canners were Blow to utilize it. A few years ago, however, a number 

 of enterprising canners began putting up this species under the name of pink salmon and during the 

 last five or six years [he industry has developed enormously. The pack of many canneries which 

 originally put up nothing but reds consists new largely, in some cases almost wholly, of pinks. Many 

 canneries which at first utilized the humpbacks only at the end of the season in order to make up their 

 guaranty are now canning them whenever they can get them. 



Although as a canned product not ranking as high as the red. the king, or the coho, pink salmon 

 is a delicious article, palatable, very nutritious, and thoroughly wholesome in every way. As a food 

 product its place is now established and in the future it will only increase in popularity. When fresh 

 and directly from the sea it is, next to the king, generally regarded as tin- lust of all the salmons as 

 a fresh fish. As a salted fish also it ranks hiidi. and salted humpback bellies are esteemed a great 

 delicacy. This fish, however, does not keep well in the fresh state, the flesh becoming soft soon after 

 the fish is taken out of the water and becoming tainted in forty-eight hours or less, even in the cool 

 climate of Alaska. Hy the time the fish has reached the spawning beds or even the mouths of the 

 rivers, its flesh has lost most of the oil it had and is then almost worthless as food. Only when caught 

 some time before it would have entered the streams is it fit for food. 



The catch of humpbacks in 190G was second in value only to tin- red salmon. In that year the 

 total number of humpback salmon utilized in the Alaskan fisheries, as given by the Alaska salmon 

 agents, was 7,707,999. The bulk of these were canned, though many were utilized in oilier ways. 

 as fresh, salted, etc. Reducing the entire catch to the basis of canned salmon, the total product 

 for 1906 equaled 357,428 cases which, at average current prices, was valued at $1,061,463. 



The Beginning and Ending of Commercial Fishing for Humpback Salmon at Various Fishing 



Stations in Alaska. 1900 and 1901-190(1. 



Note. — The fact that the name of a river is given does not necessarily mean that fishing is carried on in the river itself; 

 in many instances the fishing station Is in the vicinity of the stream and its name lias been used in order more clearly to 

 locate the streams. The dates given do nol necessarily 'mean the beginning and ending of the run for each stream, as the 

 fish may have been running for some time before tie' cannery men were aide to fish the stream, and the pack may have 

 been obtained and fishing stopped before (lie end of the run." 



Linn. 



II, rinii Sin. 



Nushaga k Bay . . 



Wood River. 



Kvichak River. . 



Naknek River. . . 



Fishing Fishing 

 began— ended- 



Central Alaska. 



t'hignik Lagoon and River 



Kodiak Island: Karluk 



C'eek Inlet (Kasilofi 



Prince William Sound: Cordova Bay. 



July 15 



July 23 



July -'■". 

 July 28 



July 2 Aug. 19 



Southeast Alaska. 



Yakutat Bay: Humpback Creek. 



Situk River 



Ankau River 



Fishing Fishing 

 began— ended— 



June 8 Aug. 6 



June 21 Aug. 5 

 July 1 Aug. 2 



Jtme in 



July 26 



Aug. 14 

 July 26 



July 2 July 12 



Aug. 1 Aug. 20 

 July 15 July 30 

 July 20 Aug. 2 



Fishing Fishing 

 began— ended — 



June 19 



June 20 

 June 14 



Julv 26 

 July 14 



June 30 



Julv 20 

 July 30 



1906. 



Fishing Fishiiii; 

 began— ended- 



Aug. 8 

 Aug. 10 



June 16 

 July - 

 June 20 Aug. 

 June 21 July 



Aug. 8 



July 5 

 ...do... 



Aug. 4 



Aug. 13 



Aug. 11 

 July 31 



