140 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Products of Alaska herring industry in 1938 










Southeast Alaska Central Alaska |Western Alaska Total 
Item a oe 
Pounds | Value |} Pounds | Value | Pounds] Value| Pounds | Value 
Hresh for, Dait=-= == =e es 2, 826, 404) $37, 865 1, 250 $13 pote = SL 2, 827, 654| $37,878 
Frozen, forbait= = = SB) SIG T0423) 024 | 2 Sie ee | eee | eee oe 3, 316,114} 23,924 
Pickled, for food: 
Sentch cures 1220) eNom ee See 1, 634,000) 97,927) 552, 150)$32,497| 2,186,150} 130, 424 
Norwesian cure@et2 582) bee Poa eek 20s PR ee 192,800} 5, 784 192, 800 5, 784 
Roused for food (bloater 
StOCK) © a2 See ee eek oe oe | ee eee eee eee 261, 350 6, 395) 155, 550) 6, 360 416, 900 12, 755 
Micaler 2 5es a 2 ee 7, 279, 394), 132, 032} 24,911, 116} 417, 582)..-_____|_______ 32,190,510) 549, 614 
(Ot ie a Oe eS BS 16, 756, 908} 267, 021)? 27, 166, 440)1, 025, 684)_.______|_______ 233, 923, 348/1, 292) 705 
Toa taleta cna ee 20, 178, 820) 460, 842] 53, 974, 156/1, 547, 601| 900, 500 “44, 641 75, 053, 476|2, 053, 084 
1 900,921 gallons. 2 3,622,192 gallons. 3 4,523,113 gallons. 
HALIBUT 
The voluntary control of production by the halibut fleet was con- 
tinued in 1938, with some modifications from the previous program, 
in an effort to make it more effective in spreading the season’s land- 
ings and maintaining favorable prices. This system was not entirely 
successful, and a concentration of landings in the spring was reflected 
in low price levels. 
Regulations of the International Fisheries Commission increased the 
quotas for areas 2 and 3 by 1,000,000 pounds each. Fishing was dis- 
continued more promptly than in the previous year, however, after the 
quota was reached. ‘The season opened on April 1, and in areas 1 and 
2 it closed at midnight July 29. The final date of clearance for halibut 
fishing in area 3 was September 29, and fishing in this area and in 
area 4 closed on October 29. 
In addition to the sale of halibut and other fish livers for pharma- 
ceutical purposes, the fishermen in 1938 had_a market for halibut and 
sablefish viscera at 10 cents per pound, this material beg used in 
experiments to determine the feasibility of extracting oils of a high 
vitamin content. It is understood that the yield of medicinal oil there- 
from did not justify the expenditures, however, and that no further 
contract would be entered into for the purchase of viscera in 1939. 
Biological studies of the Pacific halibut were continued by the Inter- 
national Fisheries Commission under the direction of Dr. W. F. 
Thompson. The schooner Hagle was chartered for research work in 
the Gulf of Alaska in the 1937-38 season. 
STATISTICAL SUMMARY 
Seven hundred and twenty-five persons were employed in the Alaska 
halibut fishery in 1938—an increase of 28 over the number reported for 
the preceding year; and products, exclusive of livers and viscera, 
amounted to 13,556,355 pounds, valued at $890,301. This production 
represents the total fares of the Alaska halibut ‘fleet, which comprises 
all American vessels landing more than one-half of their catch in 
Alaska or British Columbia ports rather than in the States. Landings 
of halibut, exclusive of livers and viscera, in Alaska totaled 8,296,907 
pounds, valued at $499,472, which include 26,000 pounds valued at 
$2,000 landed by Canadian vessels. In 1937 the landings of the Alaska 
