REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXI 



As the investigation progressed it was surprising to discover the 

 number of streams which were, or had been barricaded, notwithstand- 

 ing the strict laws prohibiting such obstructions. These conditions 

 were more observable in southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound, 

 as the streams there are small, easily closed, and numerous. The 

 extensive and indiscriminate use of barricades is fatal to the natural 

 maintenance of the salmon by preventing their ascent to the spawning- 

 grounds. At the approach of the spawning period the salmon come to 

 the rivers and streams, gathering in schools which grow larger and 

 larger as the season advances, and after they have accustomed them- 

 selves to the brackish water at the mouths of the streams they are 

 ready to ascend to the spawning-beds. If their progress is obstructed 

 they remain in the bay or inlet about the approaches to the stream, 

 endeavoring to pass the barricade, and thus are practically corralled 

 and easily taken in great numbers at small expense. 



It is maintained by the cannerymen that salmon held in brackish 

 waters ripen less rapidly, and consequently by the operation of barri- 

 cades they can be obtained in suitable condition for canning much 

 later in the season. 



The laws and regulations pertaining to the Alaska salmon fisheries 

 are not very generally observed and do not prevent the illegal capture 

 of fish. While in a minor degree the law may be defective, and owing 

 to the varying conditions found in the vast extent of territory involved 

 may need amending, still it is good as it stands and for the present 

 only needs enforcement, and there is no doubt the proprietors of the 

 canneries would be glad to see it enforced if it is done impartially. 



Without considering the large amount of money invested in the can- 

 neries with their elaborate and expensive equipment, the output is 

 worth in round numbers $3,000,000 a year, and unless effective steps 

 are taken to prevent the indiscriminate and wasteful taking of salmon, 

 it will be only a question of time before the cannery interests will suffer 

 severely, and through causes for which they are in part responsible. 



The canning industry in Alaska began in 1878, when two small estab- 

 lishments were operated at Klawak and Old Sitka, but its development 

 really commenced in 1888, when there were 17 canneries in operation. 

 The unusually large pack of that year attracted general attention to 

 the business, and in consequence many new plants were erected. This 

 resulted in an output in excess of the demand, which caused the aban- 

 donment of some of the enterprises, and also led to a consolidation of 

 many of them into an association known as the Alaska Packers' Asso- 

 ciation. Of the 29 canneries of Alaska in operation in 1897, 17 belonged 

 to this association, with an output of 609,494 cases, or nearly 74 per 

 cent of the total pack. 



Of the pack in 1897, southeast Alaska contributed 29.9 per centj the 

 Prince William Sound and Copper Eiver region 6,6 per centj the Cook 

 Inlet region 6.5 per cent; the Kadiak and Chignik region 43.8 per cent, 

 and the Bering Sea region 19.9 per cent. 



