XXVIII REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



SPECIAL STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS 



Life-liistoiy studies of the Pacific salmons were continued, dealing 

 primarily with the red-salmon runs of Bristol Bay, Karluk, Chignik, 

 and Copper River, and the pink-salmon runs in southeastern Alaska. 

 To develop further information regarding migration routes approxi- 

 mately 8,500 salmon, chiefly pinks, were tagged and released from 

 traps in the vicinity of Cape Fox and on the east coast of Prince of 

 Wales Island. Weirs to count the escapement of spawning salmon 

 wei"e operated in 26 typical salmon streams, of which 9 were in south- 

 eastern, 13 in central, and 4 in western Alaska. Investigations con- 

 cerning the Alaska herring were also continued. 



PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES 



Salmon products comprised about 70 per cent in quantity and 84 

 per cent in value of the total output of the Alaska fisheries in the 

 calendar year 1930. Approximately 93 per cent of the salmon prod- 

 ucts consisted of canned salmon, the pack amounting to 5,032,326 

 cases, or 241,551,648 pounds, valued at $29,694,898. As compared 

 with the pack of the preceding year, the output of canned salmon in 

 1930 showed a decline of 6 per cent in quantity and 27 per cent 

 in value. The heavy loss in value was attributable partly to the 

 generally lower level of prices and partly to the shortage of red 

 salmon. An unusually large proportion of the Alaska pack was 

 made up of pink salmon, the price of which fell to but one-third of 

 that of red salmon. 



The quantity of herring products exceeded that of the preceding 

 year, the gain being reflected entirely in the output of the picklod 

 product. Prices on this commodity, however, as well as of meal and 

 oil, showed a considerable decline, and the total value of herring 

 products was the lowest since 1923. The halibut industry also was 

 severely aifected by economic conditions; as a result of curtailment 

 of operations and of poor fishing in some localities there was a reduc- 

 tion of approximately 16 })er cent in the quantity landed by the 

 Alaska fleet, while the value declined 32 per cent from that of the 

 preceding year. The production of clams and shrimps increased 

 in both quantity and value. Cod fishing from shore stations de- 

 creased considerably, while Avhaling and virtually all of the minor 

 fisheries were conducted on about the same scale as in 1929. 



The total yield of the Alaska fisheries in the calendar year 1930 

 amounted to 370,990,360 jiounds of products, valued at $37,679,049, 

 as compared with an average of 370,353,764 jwunds, valued at 

 $48,042,667, for the 5-year period from 1925 to 1929, inclusive. The 

 value of the 1930 catch to the fishermen was approximately 

 $12,285,000, or about $4,297,000 less than in the preceding year. 

 There were 27,568 persons employed in the various branches of the 

 industry, as compared with 29,283 in 1929. 



ALASKA FTJR-SEAL SERVICE 

 GENERAL ACTIVITIES 



An outstanding example of international cooperation is shown in 

 the splendid results achieved under the convention of 1911 for the 



