REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 37 



are placed immediately in the open waters, none being retained for 

 shipment. The total number of fish rescued in the Mississippi River 

 chu'in<^ the season was about 178,475,000, at a cost of approximately 

 14 cents per thousand. Cooperation in the work was received from 

 the States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, 



DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO-EATING FISHES. 



At a number of the bureau's southern stations it has been found 

 that the mosquito-eating fish Gcunhusia a-ffims can be obtained in 

 large numbers for the mere cost of collecting them from the 

 pools, and in some instances they have been reared in the same 

 ponds witli the food fishes. In response to requests from the Ameri- 

 can National Red Cross and various State health authorities, ship- 

 ments of (lambusia have been made by express, those receiving 

 them paying the transportation charges. On account of the great 

 service rendered the public, the bureau has felt itself justified in 

 meeting reasonable demands for this fish. 



ALASKA FISHERIES SERVICE. 



EXTENT OF THE ALASKA FISHERIES. 



The noteworthy feature of the salmon industry in 1921 was the 

 great decrease in operations, only 83 salmon canneries being oper- 

 ated, 2 of which were new plants, as against 146 in the preceding 

 year. The reduction of activities was most marked in the southeast 

 and central districts. The catch of red salmon in the western district 

 exceeded that of the two years immediately preceding, while the 

 catch of salmon in the southeast district was the smallest in 17 

 years. The market for the cheaper grades of salmon was unsatis- 

 factory, and this together with the anticipated light run of salmon 

 in the central and southeast districts was no doubt largely responsi- 

 ble for the great reduction in activity. 



The catch of salmon in the Alaska fisheries in 1921 was 37,905,591 

 fish, of which 26,103,291 were red or sockeye salmon, 7,156,818 

 humpback or pink salmon, 2,636.901 chum or keta salmon, 1,182,205 

 coho or silver salmon, and 826,376 king or spring salmon. Appor- 

 tioned by geographical districts the catch in southeast Alaska was 

 11,852,511 fish, central Alaska, 7,929,346 fish, and western Alaska, 

 18,123,734 fish. Comparing these figures with the returns for 1920, 

 it appears that there was a net decrease of about 42 per cent; coho, 

 chum, and hum])back salmon w^ere taken in less numbers and king 

 and red salmon in greater numbers. 



The canneries, which utilized the greater part of the salmon 

 catch, numbered 83, a decrease of 63 from 1920. The pack of canned 

 fish was 2,596,826 cases, with a market value of $19,632,744, a de- 

 crease of 1,832,637 cases and $15,970,056 from the previous year. 

 The pack of red salmon was larger and that of all other species was 

 smaller than in 1920. 



Other salmon products were 2,814,800 pounds of mild-cured fish, 

 valued at $608,218; 2,016,400 pounds of pickled fish, valued at 

 $179,414; 1,506,074 pounds of frozen fish, valued at $127,442; 

 9.103,104 pounds of fresh fish, valued at $418,265; 18,533 pounds of 



