FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1927 547 



FISHERIES OF ALASKA 



The latest statistical canvass made of the fisheries and fishery 

 industries of Alaska was for the calendar year 1927. The complete 

 statistics for the canvass were published in the report "Alaska 

 fishery and fur-seal industries, 1927," and in Statistical Bulletin 

 No. 790. 



During 1927 the fisheries of Alaska employed 28,872 persons, of 

 whom 11,030 were fishermen, 16,069 were employed in the wholesale 

 and manufacturing industries, and 1,773 in transporting fishery 

 products. The catch in the round weight, exclusive of whales, 

 amounted to 458,546,100 pounds, valued at $13,812,218. The round 

 weight of whales could not be determined, but their products 

 amounted to 11,475,950 pounds, valued at $622,412. Of the total 

 catch, exclusive of whales, 300,565,699 pounds, valued at $8,702,494, 

 consisted of salmon; 156,233,673 pounds, valued at $5,021,066, con- 

 sisted of other fish; and 1,746,728 pounds, valued at $88,658, consisted 

 of shellfish. 



During 1927 there were 282 establishments (exclusive of dupli- 

 cation) in Alaska engaged in the fisheries trade. Of this number, 

 139 canned fish, 122 cured fish, 34 manufactured by-products, and 

 34 handled fresh and frozen fishery products. 



The output of these extablishments amounted to 289,149,363 

 pounds, valued at $40,163,300. The salmon industry was by far 

 the most important and produced 186,978,797 pounds of products, 

 valued at $32,361,767. In value, the halibut industry was next in 

 importance and produced 34,491,283 pounds of products, valued 

 at $3,805,088. The comparatively new herring industry ranked 

 thii'd in importance and produced 52,538,572 pounds of products, 

 valued at $2,850,823. Of the remainder, whale, shrimp, and clam 

 products were most important in value. 



In considering the wholesale and manufacturing industries sepa- 

 rately, the canning industry ranked foremost and produced 171,779,- 

 706 pounds of fishery products, valued at $30,163,083. In value, 

 cured fish ranked second, producing 25,324,157 pounds of products, 

 valued at $3,312,750. The fresh-fish industry was third with prod- 

 ucts amounting to 28,524,353 pounds, valued at $2,955,128; the by- 

 products industry fourth with an output of 42,386,161 pounds, 

 valued at $1,964,903; and the frozen-fish industry fifth, accounting 

 for the remainder of the products, amounting to 21,134,986 pounds, 

 valued at $1,767,436. 



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