54 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



HERRING FISHERY. 



The herring industry of Alaska suffered a decided setback in 1919, 

 due to a weaker demand for Alaska pickled herring. Packers ex- 

 perienced great delay in marketing their products, the explanation 

 being that the importation of European herring had closed the large 

 eastern markets to the Scotch-cured herring from Alaska, and that 

 the Norwegian-cured herring from Alaska were virtually unsalable. 

 A further reason may be given for this unsatisfactory condition, 

 namely, faulty packing and poor selection, both of which are matters 

 wholly within the control of the packers.. Any difficulty they en- 

 countered in the disposal of herring so packed may be easily under- 

 stood. If the industry is to survive and expand, it is imperative 

 that goods of high standard be produced regardless of method of 

 cure, 



A review of operations in 1919 would indicate that packers recog- 

 nized the fact that Scotch-cured herring are preferred in American 

 markets to those of any other cure. This is evidenced by the statis- 

 tics for that 3^ear, which show that the bulk of the pack was prepared 

 according to the Scotch formula, though the total production was 

 considerably less than in 1918. 



STATISTICAL SUMMARY. 



The investment in the herring industry in 1919 was $900,572, a 

 decrease of more than 50 per cent from the amount reported in 1918. 

 This was partly due to a change in classification of some operators, 

 but a further cause was the failure of a number of packers to resume 

 operations in 1919. The number of persons employed was 427, or 

 approximately 50 per cent less than in 1918, when 884 were reported. 

 The herring products in 1919 were valued at $1,676,170, as compared 

 with $1,819,538 in 1918, a decrease of $143,368. Canned herring 

 was the leading product, representing in value more than 50 per cent 

 of the total output. Scotch-cured herring took second place, al- 

 though there was a decline in production of 20 per cent and a shrink- 

 age in value of approximately 40 per cent from 1918. The produc- 

 tion of Norwegian-cured herring dropped to 11,080 barrels, or a 

 falling oft' in output of 73 per cent as compared with the pack in 1918. 



Losses in the herring industry aggregated $7,360, of which amount 

 $2,600 represented the value of apparatus and other equipment, and 

 $4,760 the value of 281 barrels of pickled herring. 



