ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES 153 
Products of Alaska herring industry in 1939 
















Southeast Alaska Central Alaska Western Alaska Total 
Item 
Pounds | Value | Pounds Value | Pounds; Value | Pounds Value 
resheton bait. —. 2-2 2, 135, 010) $26, 227 5, 000 $50| 2 28 5. || eee 2,140,010) $26, 277 
Frozen, for bait___...____-_ 3, 188, 660| 238, 874|_------ ee | eae ee |e. ee ea 3, 138, 660} 28, 874 
Frozen, for fur farms______ 15, 700 7 | entre ee os 9 || eee ee ae (eS eae ee leeee tS 15, 700 97 
Pickled, for food: 
COLeHiCUTEN «ey os She) Fes Ss Ek Se 2, 233, 563) 153, 413) 624, 300) $31,678) 2, 857, 863) +185, 091 
NGEWerIan Chie. A ee. | 22 See es | eo | 32, 550 Perec = ae Se eee ee 32, 550 2, 805 
Roused for food (bloater 
SEOGIG) by Pt eee Ps yall ee ee awk i Bae 169, 890 4, 074| 338, 400! 10, 764) 508, 280; 14, 838 
Hibmyesnl led oe = ooo ee sa) ee et 63, 200 0) O80) 2. 32 = == eerie 63, 200} 5, 080 
ita g Ts Lee ee Te TS 6, 484, 688) 141, 136} 26, 766,409} 549, 721)________]________ 33, 251,097! 690, 857 
(ONL eee ee eee 1 6,162, 293] 203, 906)? 29,602. 080) 937, 648}_____-__|________ 3 35, 764, 373)1, 141, 554 
TDGtAl 2ekare te yy 17, 936, 351] 395, 240) 58, 872, 692)1, 652, 791! 962,700} 42, 442) 77, 771, 743}2, 090, 473 
' i 
1 821,639 gallons. 2 3,946,944 gallons. 3 4,768,583 gallons. 
HALIBUT 
A program of voluntary control of production by the halibut fleet 
was again in effect throughout the season. Under this program 
departure of vessels for specific areas was made at prescribed intervals, 
catch limits per man per trip were observed, and the vessels were laid 
up at port for definite periods between trips. These measures were 
adopted to prevent concentration of landings with ensuing depression 
of prices. 
Operations in the halibut industry were controlled also by regula- 
tions of the International Fisheries Commission, among the more im- 
portant provisions of which was the establishment of ‘quotas for the 
various areas. The season opened on April 1; in Area 2 it closed on 
July 29 and in Area 3 on October 28. The closing dates set for Areas 
2 and 3 apply to Areas 1 and 4, respectively. 
Halibut livers, from which medicinal oil is extracted, were again 
sold under contract at 50 cents per pound, and there was likewise some 
sale of viscera, although in much smaller quantity than that reported 
for the previous year. 
Biological studies of the Pacific halibut were continued by the Inter- 
national Fisheries Commission. The work was under the direction 
of Dr. W. F. Thompson until July, when he was detailed to investiga- 
tions of sockeye salmon problems, after which H. A. Dunlop served as 
acting director. The schooner Hagle was chartered for a cruise off 
Queen Charlotte Islands for studies of halibut eggs and ocean currents 
in the 1938-39 season. 
STATISTICAL SUMMARY 
Seven hundred and ten persons were employed in the Alaska halibut 
fishery in 1939—a decrease of 15 from the number reported for the 
preceding year; and products, exclusive of livers and viscera, amounted 
to 13,454,471 pounds, valued at $893,686. This production repre- 
sents 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 6,994,639 
pounds, valued at $412,963, which include 15 ,000 pounds valued at 
