108 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



WHALE FISHERY 



The North Pacific Sea Products Co., at Akiitan, was tlie only firm 

 engaged in the whaling industry of Alaska in 1923. It employed 

 120 whites and 28 natives. The investment, covering value of plant, 

 vessels, wages, and other operating charges, was $472,998. A\lialing 

 was carried on in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, and the 

 catch was 2 bowheads, 151 finbacks, 155 humpbacks, 29 sulphur bot- 

 toms, 16 sperm, 1 right, and 1 sei whale. Products consisted of 

 655,250 gallons of oil, valued at $317,417; 2,313,980 pounds of ferti- 

 lizer, valued at $59,660; 3,280 pounds of whalebone, valued at 

 $2,604 ; and 130,000 pounds of pickled whale meat, valued at $9,000. 



The United States Wlialing Co. discontinued operations at Port 

 Armstrong, and transferred its activities to the South Pacific Ocean 

 in the region of New Zealand. 



CLAMS 



Dr. F. W. Weymouth and H. B. Holmes, of Stanford University, 

 were engaged in an extensive investigation of clam beds in certain 

 districts of Alaska during part of the summer of 1923. Attention 

 was directed chiefly to the beds in the Snug Harbor section of Cook 

 Inlet and the region around Cordova, but a brief visit was also made 

 to Alitak at the southern end of Kodiak Island. 



Preliminary reports indicate that a profitable and permanent in- 

 dustry along this line may be established in Alaska, but that care 

 will be necessary to prevent the depletion of the beds through too 

 intensive digging. The Alaska razor clam, the only species studied, 

 is of considerably slower growth than those of the Pacific Coast 

 States. The beds at Cordova after somewhat intensive development 

 in 1917 and 1918 showed a noticeably reduced production in suc- 

 ceeding years. 



The investigators recommended particularly two measures of con- 

 servation, namely, a minimum size limitation of 4i^ inches, not more 

 than 5 per cent of the take to fall below this limit, and also a limit 

 on the quantity of clams to be taken from specified beds. It was 

 further suggested that a system of rotation of digging on the beds 

 be established by the operators. It is contemplated that Dr. Wey- 

 mouth will make further investigation of the clam resources of 

 Alaska in the season of 1924. 



STATISTICAL SUMMARY 



Eleven firms in central Alaska and one in southeast Alaska pre- 

 pared clam products. The largest producing areas were those of 

 the Copper Kiver bars and the beaches along the southwestern shore 

 of Cook Inlet near Snug Harbor. This industry shows an invest- 

 ment of $476,747 and the employment of 338 persons. The output 

 of clam products was materially increased over that of 1922. The 

 pack of 1923 was 77,283 cases, valued at $541,139, as compared with 

 32,290 cases in 1922, valued at $185,007. 



