FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 



43 



is of vital importance and its continuance must be insured. Doubt- 

 less all of the large rivers that flow from the interior of Alaska con- 

 tribute some salmon for the sustenance of the people who live along 

 their banks, and were it possible to gather data showing the quantity 

 so consumed the production of the fisheries would be considerably 

 augmented. 



Keports have been received for a total in 1917 of 377,000 pounds 

 of salmon dry salted, dried, and smoked in Alaska, valued at $53,844. 



SALMON BY-PRODUCTS. 



The manufacture of oil and fertilizer from offal and waste material 

 at the salmon canneries was engaged in by the Fish Canners By- 

 products Co. at Ward Cove, and the Pacific American Fisheries at 

 Excursion Inlet. The North Pacific Trading & Packing Co. did not 

 utilize any of the refuse from its cannery at Klawak in the prepara- 

 tion of by-products as formerly, and its plant was therefore not in 

 operation. 



The investment in this industry in 1917 was $108,153, as com- 

 pared with $124,709 in 1916. Sixty-five men were employed in 

 this work in 1917, which is 10 less than the number employed in 

 1916. The value of the products was $61,873, an increase of $13,948 

 over the output in 1916. 



Output in By-Products Industry in Alaska in 1917. 



HALIBUT FISHERY. 



The halibut fishery of Alaska comes next to the salmon fishery in 

 quantity and value of product. The halibut fisher}'- off the coast 

 of Alaska is conducted chiefly upon seven fishing grounds, which, 

 in the order of their location from east to west, are generally desig- 

 nated as follows: Noyes Island, Coronation Island, Cape Spencer, 

 Yakutat, Yakataga, Cape Cleare, and Portlock Bank. All of these 

 localities are visited by the larger vessels of the halibut fleet, the 

 Yakutat grounds and Portlock Bank producing probably the bulk 

 of the catch delivered at Puget Sound and British Columbia ports. 

 The smaller vessels as a rule frequent the inshore grounds of south- 

 east Alaska, and deliver their catches principally at Alaskan ports, 

 although the larger of these boats often go to Prince Rupert. 



As for several years past, vexing problems in connection with con- 

 flicting American and Canadian interests in the Pacific coast halibut 

 fishery have continued to occur. Some American interests have felt 

 that the trend of the halibut trade toward Prince Rupert has been 

 caused by unwarranted activities that demanded and justified prompt 

 and decisive action lest Canada profit greatly at the expense of this 

 country. Upon the other hand, Canadian interests have no doubt 

 felt that they were within their rights in taking advantage of trans- 



