ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1929 



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small boat. Other Losses during the season included the Roald Amund- 

 sen, which caught fire and burned in Principe Channel early in May, 

 and the Corona, which was destroyed by fire oil" Cape Addington on 

 August 6. Both crews reached shore in safety. The Commonwealth 

 struck a rock in the Shuniagin Islands in April, l)iit was floated later 

 and re])aired; and the Augusta received considerable hull damage in a 

 collision with the gas boat Pheasant in Wrangell Narrows in August. 

 The Avona struck a reef in Stephens Passage in September, damaging 

 hull and propeller, and was towed to Juneau for repairs. 



Life-history studies of the Pacific halibut by the International 

 Fisheries Commission under the direction of Will F. Thompson were 

 continued, and field work w\as carried on for several months diu'iug the 

 first half of the year, the motor ship Dorothy again being chartered 

 for the purpose. This work included hydrographic operations in the 

 Gulf of Alaska, net hauls for eggs and larvai, and the tagging of halibut 

 in the vicinity of the Shumagin Islands. Detailed statistics of the 

 fishery were collected, their analysis being an important step in deter- 

 mining an effective conservation policy. 



STATISTICAL SUMMARY 



There were 1,253 persons engaged in the halibut industry in 1929 

 an increase of 12 over the number reported for the preceding year, and 

 the products totaled 37,456,998 pounds, valued at $4,422,605. This 

 output represents the total fares of the Alaska halibut fleet, which 

 comprises all American vessels landing more than one-half of their 

 catch in Alaska or British Columbia ports rather than in the States. 

 Landings of halibut in Alaska totaled 13,841,874 pounds, valued at 

 $1,424,623, which include 8,000 pounds, valued at $1,000, landed by 

 Canadian vessels. In 1928 the landings of the Alaska fleet were 

 31,567,000 pounds, valued at $3,094,000, while landings in Alaska 

 totaled 9,805,000 pounds, valued at $757,000. Thus the increase 

 in fares of the Alaska fleet was 5,889,998 pounds, or approximately 

 19 per cent in quantity and 43 per cent in value; while landings at 

 Alaska ports increased 4,036,874 pounds, or about 41 per cent in 

 quantity and 88 per cent in value from the preceding year. 



Persons engaged, wages paid and operating units, Alaska halibut industry, 1929 



