ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 387 



It is estimated that out of 500 female .salmon, to wlii(;li must be added 

 the requisite uumber of milteis, there will be fry enough to furnish all 

 the adult salmon required for such a cannery as tlie one operated by 

 them (since burned), estimated at 15,000 cases of 48 tins each, holding- 

 one pound each, and yet make i)rovision for the loss of young and adult 

 fish from natural causes before it is time for them to return to propa- 

 gate their kind in turn. There is much force in the assertion on the 

 part of experienced fishermen that the unrestricted passage upstream 

 of the hordes of ravenous trout, which always follow the run of salmon, 

 is lu'oductive of more d;image to the issue of the breeding salmon than 

 all other causes combined, and that by a system of hatcheries, such as 

 devised and operated at Point Ellis, the trout will not be able to ascend 

 the streams, and a much larger percentage of the ova will hatch out, 



THE SALMON AND HIS ENEMIES 



Beginning with the trout, which follows the breeding salmon into the 

 mountain streams and lakes in which he deligbts, the course of life for 

 the salmon is uncertain and erratic. His enemies are numerous, and 

 each in its way more than his match. If the male salmon succeeds in 

 fighting off the trout and protects his mate while she deposits the ova 

 in some apparently secure crevice in the rocks or in a hole scooped out 

 of the bottom gravel with his battered nose, and again covered from 

 sight, it is not yet safe from the marauding instinct of the sea gull and 

 the ijernicious search of the " saw-bill'' duck. If escaping both of these, 

 and in the early days of spring, the bunches of young fry, j)laying upon 

 the surface of the water while drifting out to sea, escape the frequent 

 dives of the kingfisher, they are in danger of being gulped by the schools 

 of herring which come up into some of the estuaries to meet them; or, 

 if by maneuvering along tlie shore in the reeds and grasses, a portion 

 manages to escape these heretofore unheard-of enemies, more of them 

 are destined to help make a dainty meal for the sea bass, whose upward 

 rush scatters the terrified little shiners, whose uumber is reduced at 

 each successive running of the gauntlet. 



Once out to sea, lurking in the protecting fastnesses afforded by the 

 rocks, the young salmon is not yet out of danger, furnishing food for 

 the "big fish," not excepting the members of his own immediate family. 

 Having escaped the teeth of his own kind and grown to a size affording 

 protection as against them, we might follow him to the feeding grounds 

 or banks, where shark and dogfish feast upon him and the members of 

 the seal family are in unremitting pursuit. These enemies of the salmon 

 follow the schools, when at the age of 4 years they are impelled by 

 instinct and the promptings of nature to seek a fresh- water stream for 

 purposes of reproduction, and when caught in the gill net of the fisher- 

 men, unable to tiee, gorge themselves upon his delicate flesh. In addi- 

 tion to these, the birds of the air and beasts of the forests lay in wait 

 for him as he api)ears in the shallows of the streams; the eagle, raven, 

 crow, and hawk swoop down upon him from above; and the otter steals 

 upou him from his hole in the rocks; the bear wades out among them 

 and with a flip of his forefoot throws them out on the shore, there to be 

 devoured at leisure. It would certainly seem that when this valuable 

 fish has to contend with so many natural enemies the superior skill of 

 man should be held in restraint and wise legislation for his protection 

 be enforced. 



THE SALMON PACK OF 1892. 



The entire pack of salmon for the District of Alaska for the season 

 just closed is, as is shown by the tables in Appendix B, 457,969 cases, 



