296 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



tion plant and one salmon cannery in the southeastern district and 

 at four salmon canneries in central Alaska. The total pi'oduction 

 was 1,647,170 pounds of fertilizer, valued at $41,413, and 73,975 

 gallons of oil, valued at $29,893, as compared with 1,421,644 pounds 

 of fertihzer, valued at $44,109, and 42,390 gallons of oil, valued at 

 $16,420, in 1928 — an increase of approximately 16 per cent in amount 

 of fertilizer and 75 per cent in cjuantity of oil. 



Production of salmon oil and fertilizer in Alaska in 1929 



HERRING 



Although large schools of herring appeared from time to time dur- 

 ing the season in Alaska, the fish in nearly all districts were generally 

 too small for pickling. As a result, the pack of Scotch-cured herring 

 was the smallest for any year since 1917, when this method of curing 

 was introduced in the Territory. The output of meal and oil, how- 

 ever, was the largest in the history of the industry. 



The one important exception to the general scarcity of herring suit- 

 able for curing was in the Aleutian Islands region, where the fishery 

 was first exploited in 1928. The output in that district was some- 

 what less than in the preceding year, but it represented nearly 77 

 per cent of the total pack of Scotch-cured herring in Alaska, as com- 

 pared with 41 per cent in 1928. While the run in 1929 was con- 

 siderably lighter than in 1928, it was of longer duration, beginning 

 early in July and continuing until the first part of September. 



Because of unfavorable market conditions several companies with- 

 drew from operations before the beginning of the season. A number 

 of the large plants remained idle throughout the year, while some of 

 the smaller operators turned their attention to the pickling of salmon. 

 The only floating plants in use were the barge Fort Union, operated 

 by the Port Armstrong Herring Co. in southeastern Alaska; the 

 schooner Rosamond, by the North American Fisheries in the central 

 district; and the Alice Cooke and the Donna Lane, operated by the 

 Aurora Fish Co. and the Utopian Fisheries (Inc.), respectively, in the 

 western district, the last-named being engaged also in the central 

 district for a part of the season. 



In southeastern Alaska, where the production of oil and meal is 

 chiefly centered, only one operator did not pack Scotch-cured herring 

 in connection with the manufacture of by-products. The output in 

 most instances, however, was small. The pack of Scotch-cured 

 herring in the southeastern district in 1929 was 1,244,250 pounds, as 

 compared with 4,420,100 pounds in 1928, a decrease of 3,175,850 

 pounds; while the production of by-products increased from 18,425,424 



