52 



FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 



While the catch of hahbut in Washington and British Columbia 

 waters was very good this year, the same can not be said for the local 

 fleet in Alaska waters. Despite the fact that 1907 shows a large 

 increase over the two previous seasons in number of persons employed 

 and vessels engaged in fishing, together with an increase in the quan- 

 tity of apparatus used, the catch is but 287,578 pounds more than 

 that obtained in 1906, while it is 233,895 pounds less than in 1905. 

 The gross proceeds in 1907 were less than in any of the three years in 

 question. It is quite evident that the fisher}^ in southeast Alaska, 

 at least, has reached its maximum development, if it has not already 

 begun to decline. The banks are not very extensive in this section, 

 and most of them are frequented by the fish only about six months 

 of the year (October to March). At times the fishery is prosecuted 

 so vigorously on certain of the banks that they are swept clean of 

 halibut early in the season, and the fish are followed up so closely in 

 their migrations from bank to bank that they have no rest until upon 

 the approach of warm weather, when they scatter and seek the 

 deeper waters. 



STATISTICS. 



During 1907 there were 591 persons employed in all branches of the 

 industry, an increase of 287 over 1906. There were 14 steamers and 

 launches and 15 sailing vessels engaged in fisliing in 1907, an increase 

 over 1906 of 10 steamers and launches and 1 sailing vessel. The 

 total investment increased from S106,702 in 1906 to $164,126 in 1907. 

 Despite the large increase in men, fishing vessels, and apparatus over 

 previous years, the catch was but 287,587 pounds over that of 1906, 

 while it was 233,895 pounds less than in 1905. Although the quan- 

 tity taken was larger in 1907 than in 1906, the total value was $17,567 

 less than in the latter year. 



The following tables show in detail the condition of the industry 

 in 1907: 



Employees in the Alaska Halibut Fisheries in 1907. 



