INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 285 



The cannery of the Nushagak Canning Conii)iiny is also located on 

 the east bank of the river, 9 miles below Fort Alexander. It was built in 

 1887, and is under the management of J. W. Clark and J. L. Wetherbee. 

 The working force comprises 40 fishermen, 100 Chinamen, 1 engineer, 

 2 firemen, 1 carpenter, 1 box-maker, 1 cook, and 2 waiters. They use 1 

 steam launch, 20 boats, and 5 scows, of which one is sloop-rigged. 



The Alaska Packing Company's cannery was ■ established in 1886, 

 and has paid a good interest on the investment. The men and boats 

 employed are as follows: 50 fishermen, 95 Chinamen, several engineers 

 and firemen, 2 carpenters, 1 box-maker, 1 cook, and 2 Avaiters; 25 boats, 

 8 scows, of which 1 is sloop-rigged, 1 steam launch 36 feet long, and 1 

 steamer of 10 tons burden. 



The Bristol Bay Canning Company's establishment is on the west 

 side of the river, nearly opposite Fort Alexander, in what is considered 

 to be one of the best locations in the region; it was built in 1885. It 

 employs 50 fishermen, 83 Chinamen, and 18 other persons, including 

 engineers, carpenters, firemen, etc. ; and is equij^ped with 25 boats, 5 

 scows, 1 sloop, and 1 steam launch. 



All the canneries on the Nushagak Eiver have adopted the same 

 methods of fishing for salmon, namely, with gill nets, which yield the 

 best results at all times. They are regarded as much superior to drag 

 seines and traps. Two sizes of nets are employed, one for king salmon 

 the other for red and silver salmon. A king-salmon net is 100 fathoms 

 long and 23| feet deep, or 30 meshes, measuring 9^ inches stretched. 

 The nets for the red and silver salmon are 70 fathoms long and 13 feet 

 or 24 meshes deep, the size of the mesh being 0^ inches. The floats are 

 made of wood and are placed 3 feet apart; the leads on the foot Hue 

 are 2^ feet apart. Attached to the lower corners of each net is a gal- 

 vanized-iron ring, 1 foot in diameter, which xirevents the net from foul- 

 ing. Without their use the nets, .whea set in a strong current, tend to 

 roll up into an inextricable ball. The nets seldom survive a season's 

 fishing, for tliey are continually in the water, except when undergoing 

 repairs. The fishermen generally regard the Barbour twine, manufac- 

 tured in this country, as superior to that of Scotch manufacture, because 

 it wears better, and some canneries have discarded the use of all for- 

 eign-made twine, notwithstanding its cheaper price. The fishermen 

 rig and hang all nets and other gear used in the fishery, and also keep 

 them in repair. When fish are abundant one or two men from each 

 cannery are detailed to attend to the repairing. 



The boats used by the Alaska Packing Comj)any are of the Colum- 

 bia Eiver type, measuring 25 feet long, 8 feet beam, and 2 feet deep. 

 They are provided with centerboard, and with a small half deck, both 

 fore and aft, under which small articles can be stored. An 8-inch wash- 

 rail affords some protection against a choppy sea in a stiff breeze. 

 The sprit-sail rig is universally employed on the Xushagak as on the 

 Columbia River, the sail area being from 40 to 60 square yards. All 



