62 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



In\-estment, Pebsons Engaged, and Pkoducts of Alaska Halibut Fisheby 



IN 1920. 



HERRING FISHERY. 



In the aggregate, the production of herring in Alaska in 1920 was 

 greater than ever before, but there was a wide variation in the quan- 

 tity of certain products as compared with the previous year. In 

 1919 approximately 52 per cent of the catch of herring was used 

 in the preparation of pickled and canned herring and other food 

 products. In 1920 almost 80 per cent of the catch of herring was 

 used as bait or in the manufacture of fertilizer and oil. Of 15 com- 

 panies handling herring in southeast Alaska, 7 were primarily op- 

 erators of reduction plants, 6 were handling herring exclusively for 

 bait, and 2, the smallest operators of all, were engaged wholly in the 

 preparation of food products. In central Alaska the situation was 

 decidedly different. There were 13 operators, all of whom were 

 chiefly engaged in the preparation of food products, while 2 op- 

 erated reduction works in connection with or supplemental to the 

 packing of pickled herring. All herring taken in western Alaska 

 were pickled ; the limited output resulted from the operations of 

 three packers at Golovin Bay. 



STATISTICAL SUMMARY. 



The herring industry shows an investment in Alaska of $1,396,612, 

 an increase or 55 per cent over the investment in 1919. Employment 

 was given to 376 persons, as compared with 427 in 1919. Products 

 were valued at $1,303,614, as against $1,676,170 in 1919, a decrease 

 of $372,556. Out of a total of 8,751,405 pounds of food products, 

 approximately 94 per cent was prepared as Scotch-cured herring. 

 This was an increase from 7,718,985 pounds in 1919 to 8,223,490 

 pounds in 1920. or 6i per cent. 



In the same period the Norwegian-cured product decreased from 

 2,216,120 pounds to 344,619 pounds, or approximately 84^ per cent. 



