PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES 



469 



and a few miles of the adjacent river, which the United States 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey has charted. 



We know that the river has considerahle runs of sahnon, l)ut 

 usually ice conditions have been such in the spring that a cannery 

 crew frequently could not get in in time to prepare for the run. In 

 1906 a salting outfit was sent here by Seattle dealers, but arrived too 

 late for the run of fish. The outfit was cached at Bethel. 



During a number of years mild curing of king salmon has been 

 carried on here, but the lack of cold storage, both ashore and on the 

 vessels operating to and from the river, has prevented any consider- 

 able development of this industry. 



YUKON RIVER 



The 1918 report of the Alaska agent of the United States Bureau of 

 Fisheries ^' contains the following account of the development of the 

 salmon fisheries of the Yukon River: 



The development of the Yukon sahnon fisheries began in 1918 with the estab- 

 lishment of a floating cannery at Andreafski. The season's operations resulted 

 in a pack of 13,463 cases of sahnon, divided as follows: Cohos 2,661, chums 6,471, 

 humpbacks 107, and kings 4,224 cases. In addition to this, 10,400 pounds of 

 cohos and chums were dry-salted. The total catch of salmon for the cannery 

 was 115,531, of which 26,144 were cohos, 73,921 chums, 3,227 humpbacks, and 

 12,239 kings. Fishing was carried on from the mouth of the Yukon to a point 

 above the junction of Clear River, chiefly in that part of the Yukon delta known 

 as Kwikluak Pass. The fishing seasons were as follows: Kings, June 26 to 

 August 17; chums, June 28 to September 8; humpbacks, July 7 to July 29; 

 and cohos, August 3 to September 8. Some of the cannerymen and others fre- 

 quently refer to salmon of one kind by the name " Yukons" or "Yukon salmon." 

 In so doing they mean bright or fresh-run chums. 



An investment of $48,000 was made in the plant. One stern-wheeler, the 

 Martha Cloiv (65 tons net), one gas boat, the Althea (17 tons net), and three 

 smaller power boats were operated in connection with the cannery. Salmon 

 were taken with 124 gill nets aggregating 9,869 fathoms, and 6 wheels of the 

 2-scoop pattern. Employment was given to 169 men, 55 being fishermen, 102 

 shoresmen, and 12 transporters. Of these, 36 were natives, 13 of whom were 

 listed as fishermen. 



Stokes & Stokes operated a small saltery on the lower Yukon, packing 15 

 barrels of chum salmon. Their plant was valued at $1,500. Equipment con- 

 sisted of one power boat and 300 fathoms of gill nets. They report having 

 located too far up the river, but before another season will move to a point 

 lower down. 



Warden C. F. Townsend reported that one Sepella operated a saltery on the 

 Yukon about 12 miles from salt water and that a pack of 110 barrels of chums 

 and cohos was made. Salmon were taken with gill nets and one wheel. Mr. 

 Townsend also advised that the Delta Fishing Co. was in the field in a small 

 way. 



Statistics compiled at the close of the season of 1918 indicate that exclusive 

 of gear operated by the cannery and salteries near the mouth of the river, the 

 whites and natives on the Yukon and tributarv waters used 393 fish wheels, 

 valued at $19,650, and 130 gill nets aggregating 3,250 fathoms, valued at $6,500. 

 The estimated catch for local requirements was 1,400,000 salmon, which when 

 dried represented approximately 700 tons of fish, valued at $140,000. 



The total population of the Yukon region of Alaska, dependent in some measure 

 on the fisheries, was estimated late in 1918 as being 10,907, of which number 

 6,638 were whites and 4,269 were natives. The number of dogs in the region 

 was estimated at 6,183. 



Prior to the season of 1918 the size of the run of salmon in the Yukon was an 

 almost unknown quantity. The belief was expressed in some quarters that a 

 comparatively small run ascended its waters, but others who were interested in 



21 Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1918. By Ward T. Bower. Appendix VII, Report, U. S. Com- 

 missioner of Fisheries, 1918, pp. 29-30. Washington, 1919. 



