26 a. S. BUREAU OF FISHEPJES. 



from May 28 to June 10, but by the middle of June the migration 

 had ceased. Dolly Vardens were first noticed ascending the river 

 on July 9. 



YUKON RIVER FISHERY. 



Commercial fishing for export on the Yukon River was resumed 

 in 1921 by the Carlisle Packing Co., which operated a floating cannery 

 on Kwiguk Slough, and by W. F. O'Connor, who was chiefly engaged 

 in pickling salmon. In addition N. L. Holmgren and Jacobsgaard 

 & Jorgenson made small packs of salted salmon, and Waechter Bros. 

 Co. were interested in mild-curing and freezing operations. 



Fishing was carried on in the south mouth of the Yukon, known as 

 Kwikluak Pass, and in the coastal waters immediately off the mouth. 

 The apparatus consisted of 8,850 fathoms of gill nets, 1 trap, and 2 

 wheels. The species and numbers of salmon taken were as follows: 

 Cohos, 1,000; chums, 111,098; and kings, 69,646; a total of 181,744. 

 Of these 51,624 chums and 34,807 kings were reported as having been 

 caught outside the river in waters unaffected by departmental regu- 

 lations. 



The products prepared for export were 19,435 cases of kings, 6,867 

 cases of chums, 124 tierces of mild cured kings, 8 barrels of pickled 

 cohos, 53 barrels of pickled chums, 24 barrels of pickled kings, 3,203 

 pounds of frozen chums, and 19,549 pounds of frozen kings. The 

 value of the products was $331,079. Employment was given to 172 

 whites, 58 natives, 33 Japanese, and 1 negro. The total investment 

 was approximately $522,224. 



No record could be obtained of the number of salmon taken from 

 the Yukon by Indians for local consumption, but it may be fairly 

 assumed that their catch aggregated several hundred thousand sal- 

 mon. Though some localities reported fair catches, the concensus 

 of opinion was that the runs of salmon were small and that an ade- 

 quate supply of fish for the inhabitants of the Yukon Valley could 

 hardly be secured. 



By the order of December 18, 1920, commercial fishing in Yukon 

 waters for export was prohibited indefinitely on and after September 1, 

 1921. At a hearing in Seattle on November 17, 1921, at which Mr. C. 

 H. Huston, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, was present, the Carlisle 

 Packing Co. submitted documentary and oral statements to show that 

 the runs of salmon in the Yukon were large; that the commercial 

 catch had not appreciably affected the supply; and that the closing 

 order should be set aside, so that fishing in the river could be carried 

 on in 1922. 



These contentions were opposed orally by Dr. Charles H. Gilbert, 

 of Stanford University, speaking for the bureau ; by Bishop Peter T. 

 Rowe, an eminent Episcopalian missionary of long residence in 

 Alaska, for and in behalf of a large part of the native population of the 

 region; and, further, by many unsolicited communications from per- 

 sons who by intimate knowledge of conditions were able to contribute 

 important mformation regarding the supply of salmon. After a care- 

 ful review of all the evidence submitted no satisfactory reason appeared 

 to exist for a suspension of the closing order. 



