ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1925 



137 



A bureau employee was specially assigned to supervise operations 

 in the Cordova district during the season and to see that the new 

 regulations were complied with fully. His report contained the 

 following reference to the character and extent of operations: 



Digging operations are conducted on the clam beds near Cordova and Point 

 Whitshed, along the beach from Eyak River Channel, outside of Egg Islands, 

 Hook Point, Point Steele, Point Bentinck, Boswell Bay, Hawkins Cutoff, Mummy 

 Islands, and Orca Inlet. 



The clam beds above mentioned cover about 400 square miles, and about 

 200 men dig in this area. The seven operating companies cover almost the 

 entire section. 



The clams vary in size, color, and flavor. West and south of Mummy Island 

 they are large and somewhat tough. The shell is dark, due to mud and sand 

 bars. East of the territory between Twin Rocks and Egg Island the clams are 

 tender, light yellow in color, and have striped yellow shells. Clams found to 

 the east and off of Egg Island, Point Hook, and Point Steele have a better flavor 

 than those that occur at these places. These clams are not as large or dark 

 as those near Hawkins Cutoff. But few large clams are found on the high bars, 

 because, being the most accessible, these have been dug over so much. How- 

 ever, at low tide, or when the tide is as much as 2 feet higher than the minimum, 

 large clams appear in great quantities, especially if the weather is warm and 

 bright. 



STATISTICAL SUMMARY 



Ten firms in central and one in southeastern Alaska packed clams. 

 The investment in the industry was $672,244, all of which was in the 

 central district. Operations centered at Cordova, in the vicinity of 

 which place seven concerns were located, Kukak Bay, Bering River, 

 and Cook Inlet each having one operator. The number of persons 

 engaged in the industry was 623, of whom 593 were whites, 16 natives, 

 10 Chinese, 3 Filipinos, and 1 Mexican. The investment in 1924 

 was $707,970, and 729 persons were engaged in the industry. The 

 output in 1925 was 75,279 cases, containing 2,065,554 pounds, 

 valued at $492,051, a decrease of about 12 per cent in quantity and 

 22 per cent in value from 1924, when 83,161 cases, valued at $629,412, 

 were packed. The smaller pack in central Alaska was attributable 

 largely to the strike of clam diggers, which continued for nearly three 

 weeks in May during the height of the season. 



Products of the Alaska clam industry in 1925 



Items 



Minced: 



J 2-pound cans (48 to case) 



10-ounce cans (48 to case).. 

 Whole: 



1 6-pound cans (48 to case) . 



1-pound cans (48 to case).. 



5-pound cans (6 to case)... 



Total 



Cases 



47, 248 

 22, 330 



50 



5,054 



597 



75, 279 



Pounds 



1,133,952 

 669, 900 



1,200 



242, 592 



17, 910 



2, 065, 554 



Value 



$264, 376 

 187, 214 



300 

 36,803 

 3,358 



492, 051 



SHRIMP 



The bureau continued its investigation of the shrimp fishery in 

 1925, and two employees, were detailed to accompany prospecting 

 expeditions of the Alaskan Glacier Sea Food Co. in April, during the 

 closed season on commercial operations. Warden Frank W. Hynes 



