40 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
conclusions of value may be reached by study and analysis of the 
records of past seasons, applying the four or five year cycle theory 
for red and king salmon and the shorter cycles for the other species. 
The increased production may be due in part to the greater num- 
ber of canneries in Alaska, but this is not necessarily true, as the pro- 
ductivity of any field has a limit which when once reached inevitably 
restricts the yield. This conclusion is borne out by results in south- 
eastern Alaska in 1918 where 14 more canneries were operated than in 
1917, but which yielded an increase of but 80,601 cases of salmon, an 
average of less than 6,000 cases. Double the number of canneries will 
not change the situation once the maximum productivity of the field 
has been reached. This condition is further controlled by two factors 
which in a way predetermine the correctness of the foregoing state- 
ment, i. e., (a) the escapement of salmon for reproductive purposes, 
and (6) the area of the spawning grounds. 
There was no great nes in the value of products, possibly for 
the reason that the Government, through the Food Administration, 
regulated prices upon all grades of salmon, thus preventing any 
notable rise in prices for canned salmon. A large part of the pack of 
canned salmon was commandeered for military uses by the United 
States and allied nations. 
The production of canned salmon in southeastern Alaska exceeded 
that of 1917 by less than 81,000 cases, the only increase being that of 
chum salmon, which hardly more than equaled the falling off in the 
other species. The run of salmon seemed to be rather general and 
uniform throughout the district, in striking contrast to that of 1917, 
when the bulk of the catch was made in the Icy Strait district. 
Sixteen new canneries were operated in southeastern Alaska in 1918, 
while 2 of those operating in 1917 were dropped from the list, thus 
making a net gain of 14. 
In central Alaska 3 new canneries were put into operation, while 1 
was discontinued, the net gain being 2. Of the new plants, 2 are 
credited to the Prince William Sound district and 1 to the Kodiak 
section. Central Alaska shows a greater gain in the number of cases 
of canned salmon produced than either the southeastern or western 
districts, there being an increase of approximately 380,000 cases, or 
more than 35 per cent. This is due to a considerably better catch 
of cohos, chums, and humpbacks. There was a moderate decline in 
the number of cases of kings and reds packed, which as regards the 
latter was due to a falling off of nearly 50 per cent in the run of red 
salmon at Karluk and the south end of Kodiak Island. 
The industry in western Alaska shows a gain of 1 cannery, 2 plants 
having been put in operation in 1918, while 1 was permanently dis- 
mantled and closed. There was a tremendous run of red salmon to 
Bristol Bay which struck with full force immediately after the rivers 
were free from ice. The canneries were almost swamped with fish 
at the beginning of the season. This condition prevented the largest 
use of the available supply of salmon and curtailed the pack some- 
what. This, however, was not without some benefit to the run,as a 
oe aie escapement of fish to the spawning grounds undoubtedly 
resulted. 
