44 FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 



1907, however, the excessively cold weather prevented fishing during 

 January and February ; and after the middle of the season the compe- 

 tition of the mild-curing plants proved too strong for the fresh-salmon 

 buyers, who ceased operations for the year. A considerable quantity 

 of other species besides king salmon were sold fresh this year. Of 

 kings there was 403,031 pounds, valued at $17,402, of other species 

 135,099 pounds, valued at $6,8C5. 



THE COD FISHERY. 



All of the firms and individuals operating in the district for cod 

 exclusively have their headquarters at San Francisco, Cal., or Seattle, 

 Anacortes, or Tacoma, Wash., at which places, or in their immediate 

 vicinity, the kench-cured fish are received and prepared for market- 

 ing. Nearly all of the operators have shore stations located at favor- 

 able places in central Alaska, from whence the dory fishermen carry 

 on their fishery operations, bringing in their catch daity, and when 

 sufficient kench-cured fi.sh have accumulated to form a cargo, a ves- 

 sel is dispatched from the home port, or else a fishing vessel com- 

 pletes its fare from the station catch, and carries the fish to the cur- 

 ing establishments on the coast. A small fleet of vessels also visits 

 the banks, mainly in Bering Sea, where safe harbors in which shore 

 stations can be established are very few. 



There are a few small banks in southeast Alaska, but the fish 

 caught there are rather small as compared with the central Alaska 

 fish, examples more than 24 inches in length being rare. The banks, 

 which vary from 5 to 7 fathoms in depth, are mainly in Chatham 

 Straits and Lynn Canal. The fish are found on the banks in the sum- 

 mer, disappearing into the deeper water in the fall. They are said 

 to spawn in the spring. In fishing, hand lines are used and the few 

 fish taken are pickled. 



In 1906 the cod industry was in a very demoralized condition, 

 o"wing to a bitter price-cutting war between certain of the San Fran- 

 cisco dealers. At the opening of the present season prices had 

 advanced slightly, although quite large stocks were on hand. The 

 ruinous war of the previous year had had its effect, however, and 

 the dealers now began to follow a safer and saner course, which soon 

 resulted in the surplus being disposed of at fairly profitable prices. 

 As the demand v/as good throughout the year, while the catch was 

 less than anticipated, the greater part of the product was disposed 

 of before the end of the year, and conditions were excellent at the 

 beginning of 1908. 



This industry has suffered from the spreading broadcast of exag- 

 gerated ideas as to its possible profits. As a result of this, persons 

 totally unfamiliar with the work have engaged in it, and instead of 

 building up a trade by the preparation of a good product at a living 



