ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1935 



45 



CLAMS 



Although operations in the clam industry in the Seward-Katalla 

 district were adversely affected by labor difficulties during the spring, 

 the pack limit of 552,000 pounds for the first 6 months, as specified by 

 the regulations for that area, was reached on June 19, and the summer 

 closed season extended from that date through August 15. Unfavor- 

 able market conditions curtailed the fall pack however, so that the 

 production in the district was considerably less than in the previous 

 year. 



A study of the condition of the razor clam, fishery in the vicinity 

 of Cordova by Seton H. Thompson and Dr. F. W. Weymouth, 

 published as Investigational Report No. 29, shows the clam stock on 

 the beds in this region to be well able to withstand the drain of com- 

 merical fishing under existing regulations. 



In the Kodiak area there was a decided increase in production over 

 that for 1934, due to the resumption of operations at Kukak Bay. 

 Of the total output of clams in Alaska in 1935, approximately 65 

 percent came from the vicinity of Cordova, 27 percent from the 

 Kodiak area, and 4 percent each from Cook Inlet and southeast 

 Alaska. 



Fifteen firms in central Alaska handled clams, chiefly in conjunction 

 with other branches of the fisheries. Among the more important 

 operators were the W. R. Gilbert Co., Inc., Pioneer Canneries, Inc., 

 Scotty's Packing Co., Strand-Jensen Fisheries Co., Alaska Icepak 

 Corporation, Cordova Fisheries Co., Inc., E. A. Haltness, and S. E. 

 Smith Packing Co., in Cordova and vicinity; the Enterprise Packing 

 Co. and Ninilchik Packing Co. on Cook Inlet, and the Surf Canneries 

 at Kukak Bay. In southeast Alaska a small quantity of hard-shell 

 clams was packed by the crab cannery of V. L. Broadway & Co. at 

 Wrangell and by the salmon cannery of Lane Brothers at Moira 

 Sound. 



The number of persons employed in the clam industry in 1935 was 

 448, of whom 389 were whites, 55 natives, and 4 Filipinos. The out- 

 put consisted of 34,259 cases, containing 889,302 pounds (857,742 

 pounds of razor clams and 31,560 pounds of butter clams), valued at 

 $197,581. This is an increase of about 14 percent in quantity and 

 5 percent in value as compared with figures for 1934, when clam 

 products amounted to 782,388 pounds, valued at $188,666. 



Products of the Alaska clam industry in 1935 



Item 



Cases 



Pounds 



Value 



Minced: 



J.^-pound cans (48 to case) 



10-ounce cans (48 to case). 



1-pound cans (48 to case). 



2-pound cans (24 to case). 

 Whole: 



J4-pound cans (48 to case) 



10-ounce cans (48 to case). 



1-pound cans (48 to case). 



10-pound cans (6 to case). 

 Juice: 



j2-pound cans (24 to case) 



Total... 



24, 793 



8,347 



177 



490 



87 

 148 

 42 

 25 



595, 032 



250, 410 



8,496 



23, 520 



2,088 

 4,440 

 2,016 

 1,500 



1,800 



889, 302 



$137,315 



53, 900 



1,433 



2,450 



378 



1,234 



321 



250 



300 



197, 581 



