140 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



the large proportion of undersized clams. It was shown that in the 

 cold waters of central Alaska the production of clams is much smaller 

 than on the Washington beds, and also that the rate of growth is 

 slower. By taking undersized and immature clams the industry has 

 to a dangerous degree been reducing its capital. 



The age of a clam is determined from markings on the shell, like 

 rings of a tree, and comparative studies revealed that on the Copalis 

 (Wash.) beds clams reached a length of 4^^ inches in three years, 

 while at Cordova the period required is six years. The restoration 

 of the depleted Alaska clam beds will therefore require many years. 

 The imposition of a minimum size limit will, it is hoped, be helpful in 

 this restoration, as it will make operations unprofitable and cause 

 their cessation on beds where a large percentage of undersized clams 

 IS taken. 



During the season of 1924 the regulations established a minimum 

 size of 43^ inches in total length of shell, and permitted not more 

 than 5 per cent of the clams taken to be under that size. The new 

 regulations issued December 2, 1924, reduced this percentage to not 

 more than 3 per cent in number of the clams taken. 



STATISTICAL SUMMARY 



Eleven firms packed clams in central Alaska and two in south- 

 eastern. Investment in the industry was S707,970, all of which was 

 in the central district. Operations centered at Cordova. The 

 number of persons engaged was 729, of which 557 were whites, 153 

 natives, 14 Chinese, 3 Mexicans, and 1 each Filipino and Negro. 

 The investment in 1923 was $476,747, and 338 persons were employed. 

 The output in 1924 was 83,161 cases, containing 2,340,644 pounds, 

 valued at S629,412, an increase of 6 per cent in quantity and 16 per 

 cent in value over the previous year, when 77,283 cases, valued at 

 $541,139, were packed. 



Products of the Alaska clam industry in 1934 



Items 



Minced: 



H-pound cans (48 to cnse) 



lO-ounce cans (48 to case) . 



1-pound cans (48 to case). 



10-pound cans (•j to case) . 

 Whole: 



1-pound cans (48 to case)_ 



5-pound cans (fi to case) - . 



10-pound cans (6 to case) - 



Total... 



Cases 



52, 131 



21, 074 



645 



26 



8,020 



1,200 



05 



Pounds 



83, 161 



1,251,114 



C32, 220 



30, 960 



1, 560 



384, 960 



36, 000 



3,800 



2, 340, 644 



Value 



$354, 961 



185, 456 



5,172 



273 



75, 315 



7,650 



585 



629, 412 



SHRIMP 



Preliminary investigations concerning the condition and needs of 

 the shrimp fishery in southeastern Alaska were made under the 

 direction of Assistant Agent E. M. Ball in 1924. Keports and com- 

 ments in regard to the Wrangell and Petersburg districts were secured 

 from the masters of the bureau's patrol boats Murre and Auklet and 

 from the chief packers of shrimp in these districts. A considerable 

 diversity of opinion was apparent as to the time of the spawning period 



