30 FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 



operated by companies which can sahnon, viz, at Karhik and on the 

 Naha, by the Alaska Packers Association; at Klawak, by the North 

 Pacific Trading and Packing Company, and at Hetta, by the North- 

 western Fisheries Company. The Alaska Packers Association has been 

 operating its two large hatcheries (the total expenditure on which, 

 without counting in the cost of maintenance, has been something like 

 $300,000) for some years. Up to last 3^ear, when the new law went 

 into effect, the association had borne, in addition to the initial cost 

 of these plants, and the large annual expense entailed in operating 

 them, the regular license tax of -J cents on every case packed, just as 

 had those canneries which did not operate hatcheries. Under the 

 present law the owners of private hatcheries receive in rebates proba- 

 bly a little less than the cost of operating, which is a much more 

 equitable arrangement than that under the old law. During the period 

 from July 1, 1906, to June 30, 1907, the three hatcheries which were 

 then operated by private companies (the Northwestern Fisheries Com- 

 pany did not open the Hetta hatchery until after the close of the 

 hatching season of 1906-7) deposited in the streams of Alaska 

 118,979,000 fry, for which they received rebate certificates to the 

 value of about $47,590. The hatchery owner receiving these cer- 

 tificates is permitted to use them in the payment, or part payment, 

 of his license tax on salmon packed. 



LAWS AND VIOLATIONS. 

 FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR LAW. 



Cannery men, witii very few exceptions, vigorously approve the sec- 

 tion of the law forbidding the canning of salmon which have been 

 dead longer than forty-eight hours. The law makes no tlistinction 

 between the species, however, whereas there is considerable difi'er- 

 ence in the rapidity with which different species of salmon, under the 

 same conditions, become unfit to can. The softer tissues of the 

 humpback become tainted sooner than those of the redfish, and in 

 warm weather may not remain in proper condition for 48 hours; 

 on the other hand, in cold weather the retlfish may sometimes be com- 

 parativel}^ firm and fresh when two days old. The law as it stands is 

 certainl}^ not too rigorous and imposes no hardships. Its observance 

 should be demanded and is to the interests of all concerned. 



WEEKLY CLOSE PERIOD. 



The change in the weekly close period from Saturday to Sunday 

 did not go into effect in 1906 until the season was sojtnewhat advanced. 

 The change occurred on June 26, 1906, but allowing some time for its 

 promulgation, the new arrangement can not be said to have had a 

 thorough trial until the season of 1907. Only a few expressed dis- 

 satisfaction with the change, while most cannery men and fishermen 



