36 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



LOSSES AND DISASTERS. 



Losses of property in the salmon industry aggregated $401,452, 

 of wliich amount $350,000 represented the value of the Kenai can- 

 nery of Libby, McNeill & Lil^by, which was destroyed by fire on 

 June 21. Fishing gear and small boats, valued at $14,050, were 

 lost in southeast Alaska. Central Alaska, exclusive of the Kenai 

 plant, reported a loss in gear and boats of $4,235. The loss of gear, 

 boats, supplies, and damage to buildings totaled $33,177. 



Eleven people were drowned, six reported from western Alaska 

 and five from southeast Alaska. Of the total number, six were fish- 

 ermen, three shoresmen, and two transporters. 



STATISTICS. 



The total number of salmon canneries operated in Alaska in 1921 

 was 83, or 63 less than the number in 1920. By this showing the 

 total active investment was $33,246,292, or $29,304,335 less than in 

 1920. The falling off by districts is as follows: Southeast Alaska, 

 $21,515,860; central Alaska, $6,452,127; and western Alaska, 

 $1,336,448. Employment was given to 12,986 persons, or 11,437 

 less than in 1920. The decrease in the number of whites was 6,813, 

 natives 1,011, Chinese 1,481, Japanese 781, Filipinos 630, Mexicans 

 295, Negroes 199, and miscellaneous 226. 



A total of 2,596,826 cases of salmon was packed in 1921, valued 

 at $19,632,744. As compared with 1920, this is a decrease in pro- 

 dustion of 1,832,637 cases, or approximately 41 per cent, and in 

 value of $15,970,056, or approximately 45 per cent. This decrease 

 may be attributed chiefly to the fact than 68 canneries were not 

 operated, the majority of wliich were located in southeast Alaska, 

 where the decline was heaviest. Most of the canneries in that dis- 

 trict were dependent on the run of humpback salmon for their packs, 

 but the unsatisfactory market for this species undoubtedly weighed 

 heavily against operations in 1921. By this reduction in fishing, 

 particularly in southeast Alaska, a larger escapement of salmon 

 unquestionably resulted which should have a beneficial effect upon 

 the runs in the years to come. 



The pack of canned salmon in 1921 was less than that of 1920 by 

 1,832,637 cases. Southeast Alaska fell off 1,421,940 cases and cen- 

 tral Alaska 694,349 cases, but western Alaska increased 283,652 

 cases. This is the smallest production of canned salmon in Alaska 

 since 1907. Comparing the total pack by species in 1920 and 1921, 

 the following results are noted: Cohos decreased from 192,085 cases 

 to 106,555, a decline of 85,530 cases; chums, from 1,033,517 to 

 255,495, a decline of 778,022; humpbacks from 1,593,120 to 423,984, 

 a decline of 1,169,136; kings from 110,003 to 44,994, a decline of 

 65,009; and reds increased from 1,500,738 cases to 1,765,798, a gain 

 of 265,060 cases. 



