REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 37 



ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE. 

 EXTENT OF THE ALASKA FISHERIES. 



The Alaskan salmon industry returned to practically normal pro- 

 portions in the season of 1922 after its decline in 1921. Many salmon 

 canneries were reopened and 15 new ones established, making a total 

 of 123 plants operated as against 83 in the previous year. A number 

 of plants remained closed, in some instances operations being carried 

 on jointly by two or more companies at one plant. Market conditions 

 also improvoH^ thus promising a successful season. The larger pro- 

 duction in 1922 resulted chiefly from the unusually heavy run of 

 humpback salmon in southeastern Alaska. 



The catch of salmon in the Alaska fisheries in 1922 was 72,370,400 

 fish, of which 33,898,772 were red or sockeye salmon, 30,589,342 

 humpback or pink salmon, 5,273,883 chum or keta salmon, 1,838,094 

 colio or silver salmon, and 770,309 king or spring salmon. Appor- 

 tioned by geographical districts, the catch in southeast Alaska was 

 31,055,302 fish; central Alaska, 15,612,843 fish; and western Alaska, 

 25,702,255 fish. Comparing these figures with the returns for 1921, 

 there was a total increase of about 91 per cent. All species, with the 

 exception of kings, were taken in greater numbers. The number of 

 humpbacks taken in 1922 was an increase of about 327 per cent over 

 the take in 1921. 



The 123 canneries utilized the greater part of the catch of salmon 

 in the canned pack, which comprised 4,501,652 cases with a market 

 value of $29,787,193, an increase of 1,904,826 cases, or approximately 

 72 per cent, and $10,154,449 in value over the previous year. The 

 pack of all species, except kings, was larger. 



Other salmon products were 4,266,050 pounds of mild-cured fish, 

 valued at $821,169 ; 3,585,100 pounds of pickled fish, valued at $248,- 

 015; 3,849,153 pounds of frozen fish, valued at $261,094; 3,802,729 

 pounds of fresh fish, valued at $271,869 ; 906,550 pounds of dried or 

 smoked fish, valued at $148,464; 774,000 pounds of fertilizer, valued 

 at $23,438 ; and 12,989 gallons of oil, valued at $5,015 ; the total value 

 of the products of the salmon industry of Alaska in 1922 being 

 $31,566,257. 



The herring fishery ranked next to the salmon fishery in 1922, 

 totaling 35,995,450 pounds of Scotch-cured fish, valued at $2,030,975 ; 

 237,850 pounds of Norwegian-cured fish, valued at $14,009 ; 240,000 

 pounds of dry salted for food, valued at $9,600; 425,241 gallons of 

 oil, valued at $144,418; 1,646 tons of fertilizer, valued at $98,528; 

 and 3,488,615 pounds of bait, valued at $31,586. 



The halibut fishery produced 7,886,764 pounds of fresh fish, valued 

 at $772,610, and 3,188,473 pounds of frozen fish, valued at $262,357. 



The cod fishery yielded a catch valued at $464,169 and the whale 

 fishery $409,518. ' Clam products were valued at $185,007 and shrimp 

 products at $126,690. Other minor items were : Crabs, $47,379 ; trout, 

 $5,914; sablefish, $1,538 ; flatfish, $367 ; and ling cod, $26. 



The entire Alaska fishery industry gave employment to 21,974 

 persons, represented an investment of $54,590,302, and yielded prod- 

 ucts valued at $36,170,948. 



