FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 55 



RED ROCKFISH. 



The red rockfish continues to grow in popular esteem as a food 

 fish. This is evident from the fact that a considerable quantity 

 was frozen by the larger companies operating cold-storage plants in 

 Alaska. With the establishment of a trade in rockfish, fishermen 

 will find it profitable to save all such fish, which heretofore have been 

 thrown away in large numbers, not only because they were of little 

 value, but in order that all space in the fishing vessels might be 

 filled with halibut. In proportion as the demand for halibut exceeds 

 the supply the cheaper and hitherto neglected species will be utilized. 



The production of rocklish in 19 f 7 was 150,453 pounds, valued at 

 $3,696, as compared with 45,200 pounds in 1916, valued at $1,294. 

 Of this amount 19,350 pounds were sold fresh for $1,075 and 131,103 

 pounds, valued at $2,621, were frozen. 



SHRIMPS. 



The Alaskan Glacier Sea Food Co., at Petersburg, pickled 65,000 

 pounds of shrimps, valued at $3,400. This output is slightly less 

 than in 1916, when the total value of shrimp-fishery products was 

 $3,750. 



CRABS. 



No more delectable food comes from the waters of Alaska than 

 crabs; yet, notwithstanding their wide distribution, they are taken 

 commercially to a very limited extent, and but two localities are 

 reported as haviag produced any. According to available returns a 

 total of 360 dozen, valued at $540, was taken at Tenakee, while 50 

 dozen, valued at $125, were marketed at Cordova. There is also 

 some local use of crabs by fishermen and others at various places. 



SHARKS. 



The Bureau has been calling attention to the possibihties of a 

 profitable shark fishery. This applies to the waters of Alaska as 

 well as elsewhere. The Bureau is prepared to furnish definite infor- 

 mation to interested persons in respect to the preparation of hides 

 of sharks for the tanner. Jt has been clearly demonstrated that 

 shark hides furnish a desirable grade of leather. The carcasses may 

 be worked up into oil and fertilizer. Jt is essential that due care be 

 exercised to avoid cutting holes in the hides during the process of 

 skinning, as every hole in the hide lessens its value. 



The Marine Products Co., ^vith headquarters at Seattle, Wash., 

 has made an effort to interest fishermen and others in southeastern 

 Alaska to the end of securing sharks, in a circular issued by the 

 company on January 2, 1918, it was pointed out that the market 

 value of shark-liver oil in barrels, delivered at Seattle, was then from 

 55 to 75 cents per gallon, it was stated that No. 1 shark skins, over 

 6 feet in length, were worth 12 cents a pound, while No. 2 skins, under 

 6 feet in length, were worth 11 cents a pound. It was stated that 

 shark meat dried, rough, unground, in sacks, at Seattle, was valued 

 at from $50 to $60 per ton of 2,000 pounds. 



