ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1922. 



63 



both of these districts again reached normal proportions, and that in 

 central Alaska was not far below the average for several years. 



The condition of the salmon fisheries in the northern section of 

 southeast Alaska was unsatisfactory, and concern is felt over the 

 very evident decline of the salmon runs in that region. Several 

 canneries in the affected district were idle during the year, and 

 at most of those that did operate much smaller packs were made, 

 showing unmistakably that the supply of salmon is depleted. 



SALMON CATCH AND APPARATUS. 



In 1922 there were used in the salmon fisheries of Alaska 160 

 beach seines, aggregating 21,905 fathoms, and 289 purse seines, 

 aggregating 48,600 fathoms, a total of 449 seines or 70,505 fathoms, 

 an increase over 1921 of 236 seines or 35,442 fathoms. Southeast 

 Alaska is credited with 308 seines, having a total length of 48,380 

 fathoms; central Alaska, with 119 seines, having a total length of 

 17,525 fathoms; and western Alaska, with 22 seines, having a total 

 length of 4,600 fathoms. 



The gill nets operated in the salmon industry in 1922 total 3,335, 

 aggregating 378,440 fathoms of webbing, an increase over 1921 of 

 100 nets and 3,120 fathoms. Operators in southeast Alaska used 

 270 gill nets, with 28,775 fathoms of webbing; in central Alaska, 

 1,010 gill nets, with 71,930 fathoms; and in western Alaska 2,055 

 gill ne^ts, with 277,735 fathoms. 



The total number of traps used in the salmon industry in 1922 

 was 111 floating and 265 driven, a total of 376, an increase of 196 

 traps over the number in 1921. Southeast Alaska is credited with 

 138 driven and 109 floating traps; central Alaska with 118 driven and 

 2 floating; and western Alaska with 9 driven. Southeast Alaska is 

 credited with 5,790 lines used in taking salmon and western Alaska 

 with 7 salmon wheels. Of the total catch of salmon approximately 

 23 per cent were taken in seines, 35 per cent in gill nets, and 41 per 

 cent in traps. Less than 1 per cent was taken by all other methods 

 combined. 



Percentage of sahnon caught in each Alaska district, by principal forms of 



apparatus. 



In 1922 the total take of salmon was 72,370,400, as compared with 

 37,905,591 in 1921, an increase of 34,464,809, or approximately 91 

 per cent. The increase occurred in all three districts of Alaska, that 

 of southeast Alaska being 19,202,791, central Alaska 7,683,497, and 

 western Alaska 7,578,521. As compared with 1921 the catch in 

 Alaska shows that cohos increased 655,889, chums 2,636,982, hump- 

 54940°— 23 5 



