390 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



esteemed a delicacy by the Caucasian epicure. Some day iu the future 

 the halil)ut of Alaska may supply the place of the Greenland article 

 now sold ill the Atlantic States. The difference in the rate of freights, 

 when same are more nicely adjusted to competing circumstances, may 

 safely be met by the fact that halibut fishing in Alaskan waters may 

 be j>ursued with safety and comparative comfort during the entire 

 season. Some recently discovered grounds in and about Cordova Bay 

 and Dixons Entrance, along the southern extremity of Prince of Wales 

 Island, have excited attention, and at this time of writing a steam 

 schooner {Francis Cutting) is taldng a fare, and the visit may result in 

 the establishment of a station at or near Cape Muzou. 



EULACHON, OR CANDLE-FISH. 



This peculiar fish, a member of the smelt family, has achieved a 

 world-wide reputation as the candle-fish of the Northwest Indians, and 

 derived its peculiar cognomen from the fact that when sun dried or 

 smoked it is so rich and oily that the application of flame to one end 

 will cause it to burn as would a piece of pitch pine or '' lightwood." 



A few years ago a considerable quantity was smoked and shipped by 

 a firm then located at old Fort Tongass, but the ditficulty in obtaining 

 same in the waters of Naas Eiver, the same being in British Columbia, 

 made the venture unj^rofitable. A small quantity is put up in salt 

 pickle upon orders, and the natives of the southern end of the Alaskan 

 panhandle secure by purchase and barter from the Tsimpsian Indians 

 of British Columbia a considerable quantity of eulachon "grease," 

 which takes the place of lard in their domestic economy. At infre- 

 quent periods this fish has been known to ascend the Stikine, Unuk, 

 and Chilkat rivers, and may frequently be met with among the natives 

 at Fort Wrangel, Juneau, and vicinity. Its peculiarity in selecting 

 only glacial rivers in its spawning migrations and the fact that it can 

 be caught only by the insertion of small-mesh gill nets through holes 

 in the ice during the month of February tend to make it exclusive 

 and expensive. As the eulachon " grease'' is extracted by a system of 

 putrefaction, its presence in a native house is indicated to the European 

 nostril while he be yet afar off. 



In addition to the foregoing, not less than 10,000 gallons of dogfish 

 oil, so called, produced from the liver of the dogfish and shark, was 

 extracted by the natives and sent to market through the medium of 

 the trading store. This oil, because of its heavy body and freedom 

 from grit, is a most desirable lubricant, and finds among the logging- 

 camps of the Puget Sound region a profitable market as " skid grease." 

 With improved lacilities, such as may l)e assumed will be at the service 

 of the special agent during the season of 1893, an exact report of this 

 industry may be expected, and for the season of 1892 the sum of 83,000 

 can safely be added to the amount heretofore reported, making a grand 

 total of $2,257,939.55 receiv^ed from the various fishing industries of 

 Alaska, as follows : 



Salmon $2,064,340.05 



Codtisli 104,062.00 



Herring oil and eaauo, salted herring 86, 537. 50 



Dogfish oil 3,000.00 



Total 2,257,939.55 



Respectfully submitted. 



Max Pracht, 

 Special Afjentfor the Protection of Alasl-an Salmon Fisheries. 

 The Secretary of the Treasury. 



