56 



FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 



record is kept, the muskrat occupies an apparently insignificant place 

 in Alaska's commerce. The natives use the fur for clothing and 

 blankets or robes. In 1905 12,599 skins, valued at $1,192, in 1906 

 3,611 skins, valued at $302, and in 1907 6,481 skins, valued at $494, 

 were shipped. out of the district. The greater part of these came from 

 the Yukon valley. 



LAND OTTER. 



This valuable animal is found mainly in the regions adjacent to the 

 coast and is very widely distributed. Southeast, central, and western 

 Alaska 3deld practically the same catch. Like the other aquatic furs 

 from Alaska the output is steadily on the decline. In 1905 the catch 

 amounted to 1,889 skins, valued at $14,458; in 1906, to 1,709 skins, 

 valued at $16,618, wliile in 1907 but 1,393 skins, valued at $12,695, 

 were secured. 



SEA OTTER. 



The yield of this extremely valuable fur is still diminishing, and 

 it is probably only a question of a few years before the animal 

 will become extinct. At the present time the pursuit of it is so pre- 

 carious that but two schooners fitted out for the hunt in 1907. The 

 schooner Challenge (owned by Henry Dirks, of Atka Island) did not 

 outfit this year, but was taken to Puget Sound to be overhauled and 

 equipped with a gasoline engine. The o\Mier outfitted a number of 

 natives with bidarkas for a hunting season in the neighborhood of 

 the Rat Islands, but no news from these natives can be expected until 

 the spring of 1908. The two vessels noted below operated on the 

 Sannak Reefs in very unfavorable weather, the Everett Hayes hunt- 

 ing from May 12 to August 25, having during that time only 119 

 suitable hours. The Emma was out in July only. 



The fleet and catch in 1907 is shown in the following table: 



In addition to the catch shown above, 8 sea otters, 

 were killed in various ways (2 were picked up on the 

 Island), making a total catch by Alaskans of 16 sea 

 $4,008, a decrease of 12 skins and $821 as compared 

 catch in 1905 was 61, valued at $13,867. 



An odd, but sometimes very profitable, business 

 ling certain beaches on the watch for the bodies of 

 may be washed up. The work is carried on in the 



valued at $2,808, 

 shores of Kadiak 

 otters, valued at 

 with 1906. The 



is that of patrol- 

 sea otters which 

 fall, winter, and 



