ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1927 



141 



The products of the whale fishery were as follows: 1,105,900 gallons 

 of whale oil, valued at $543,628; 10,500 gallons of sperm oil, valued 

 at $4,200; 8583^ tons of fertilizer from meat, valued at $51,490; 

 6543^ tons of bone fertihzer, valued at $19,635; 53,775 pounds of 

 pickled meat, valued at $2,419; and 23,175 pounds of whalebone, 

 valued at $1,040; a total value of products of $622,412. The produc- 

 tion of whale oil increased 103,950 gallons, sperm oil 5,350 gallons, 

 and bone fertilizer 173 3^^ tons, while fertilizer from meat decreased 

 703^ tons. While the output as a v/hole showed a considerable 

 increase, the total value of the products was approximately 8 per 

 cent less than in 1926, when the products were valued at $679,814. 



CLAMS 



Dr. F. W. Weymouth, of Stanford University, assisted by H. C. 

 McMillin, continued studies of the Alaska clams during the summer 

 of 1927 to secure data for the completion of reports already in prog- 

 ress and to determine the regulatory measures necessary for the 

 conservation and protection of the clam resources. Observations 

 were made of clam beds at Kukak Bay, Uganik, Seward, and Cordova. 



A further decline in production was experienced by the clam 

 packers of Alaska during 1927. As in the preceding year, all opera- 

 tions were carried on in central Alaska. Three plants were engaged 

 exclusively in canning clams and three packed both salmon and 

 clams. These operations were confined to the Cordova district, with 

 the exception of those at Kukak Bay, Alaska Peninsula, by the 

 Seashore Packing Co., and at Snug Harbor, Cook Inlet, by the Snug 

 Harbor Packing Co. 



The number of persons employed was 260, of which 248 were whites 

 and 12 natives. The output in 1927 was 23,865 cases, containing 

 634,752 pounds, valued at $146,735, a decrease of almost 36 per 

 cent in quantity and 42 per cent in value from the production in 1926, 

 when 38,422 cases totaling 985,056 pounds, valued at $254,236, were 

 packed. 



Products of the Alaska clam industry in 1927 



Items 



Cases 



Pounds 



I 

 Minced: | 



!^2-pound cans (48 to case).l 13,533 



10-ounce cans (48 to case) 10,291 



Whole: 



10-ounce cans (48 to case) 41 



Total .-. 23,865 



Value 



$76, 583 

 69, 578 



574 



146, 735 



SHRIMP 



Further studies of the shrimp fishery of Alaska were made by War- 

 den Frank W. Hynes in the summer of 1927. The report of his 

 investigations, which have been carried on since 1924, will be pub- 

 lished as a separate document. 



