142 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



date the smaller mesh nets were also issued, but the number of these 

 on hand was not adequate to supply all the fishermen. 



Forty-one boats in. all were employed in fishing, 34 of these 

 throughout the season, the remainder for varjdng periods. Four of 

 them were engaged so short a time and obtained so few fish that they 

 may well be omitted from consideration. To each boat was issued 

 200 fathoms of king salmon net, and subsequently 200 fathoms of the 

 small mesh salmon net, to the extent that this was obtainable. 



In addition to the gill nets, renewed attempts were made in 1920 

 to use fish wheels. Two of these were constructed by the company, 

 but were no sooner placed for fishing than they were put out of 

 commission by the heavy drift which was running during the early 

 days of the fishing season. 



In addition to the above, nine wheels were privately owned and 

 operated within the area open to commercial fishing, and the catch 

 of seven of these was sold in whole or in part to the cannery. A 

 very limited number of salmon were obtained from independent 

 fishermen using nets. The number thus purchased from independent 

 operators using wheels or nets amounted to some 7,400 kings and 

 27,000 chums, out of a total number handled by the cannery of 

 58,467 kings and 155,655 chmns. 



The fishing gear operated by the cannery and by private parties 

 occupied only a narrow fringe along the margins of the channels. 

 No attempt was made to fence or block the main channels in any 

 manner, nor could such an attempt at any time be successful. 



The employees at the cannery numbered 254. Of these, 122 were 

 brought in from Seattle, including 40 Orientals and 44 fishermen. 

 Of the 132 Alaskans, 40 were employed as fishermen, while 48 were 

 natives, of which the first crew of 25 ceased work in the middle of the 

 season. It was pleasing to learn from the superintendent that the 

 Alaskan fishermen gave a good account of themselves and would 

 hereafter be preferred by the company. 



The pack put up by the cannery in 1920 was far less extensive than 

 in the previous year, as is shown by the following table : 



Pack of Salmon by Yukon Cannery in 1919 and 1920. 



The comparative lack of success in 1920 was due in part to the un- 

 favorable fishing conditions and in part to voluntary shortening of 

 the fishing season. In 1919 fishing was continued until the- close of 

 August, but in 1920 only until the middle of July, as the low market 

 price for chums did not warrant the company in continuing to oper- 

 ate after the run of king salmon was over. The season of 1920 was 

 extremely late on the Yukon, and the king salmon entered with a 

 rush, while yet the river was very high and was carrying down enor- 



