THE FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1908. 



By Millard C. Marsh, Agent at the Salmon Fisheries of Alaska, 



and 

 John N. Cobb, Assistant Agent. 



SUMMARIZED STATISTICS. 



As in the reports for previous years, the District of Alaska is con- 

 sidered in the four geographic sections generally recognized, as follows: 

 Southeast Alaska, embracing all that narrow strip of mainland, and 

 the numerous islands adjacent, from Portland Canal northwestward 

 to and including Yakutat Bay; central Alaska, the region on the 

 Pacific, or south side, from Yakutat Bay westward, including the 

 Aleutian chain; western Alaska, the shores of Bering Sea, and 

 islands in this sea; and arctic Alaska, from Bering Strait to the 

 Canadian border. 



With the exception of arctic Alaska and a portion of western 

 Alaska, practically all of the fishing localities were visited by one or 

 the other of the agents. Statistics of the yield of fur seals from the 

 Pribilof Islands were obtained tlirough the courtesy of the agent at 

 the fur seal islands, while figures for the other aquatic furs (except 

 the coast fur seals and sea otter) and skins, also the whalebone and 

 walrus ivory, were obtained from the custom-house records at Juneau. 

 Considerable commercial fishing is carried on in the Yukon River and 

 its tributaries, where fish wheels, nets, and spears are employed, 

 but unfortunately it has been found impossible so far, owing to the 

 short time available each season and the few agents employed, to 

 extend the inspection work over this large region, or to secure data 

 showing the extent of the fisheries there. 



As in previous years, by far the greater part of the fishery products 

 of Alaska are marketed outside the district, but a steadily increasing 

 local demand is noticeable, especially in the case of the hitherto 

 somewhat neglected minor species. 



PERSONS ENGAGED. 



The nilmber of persons engaged in the fisheries of Alaska in 1908 

 was 13,337, of whom 4,976 were engaged directly in fishing, 7,740 

 in the canneries, salteries, and at other shore work, and 621 employed 

 on the transporting vessels. This total is a gain of 585 over the num- 



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